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UNIVERSITY  OP 

NOl    CAROLINA 

School  of  Library 

Science 


JOHN  SKALLY  TERRY 
MEMORIAL  COLLECTION 


ESTABLISHED  BY 

THE  FAMILY  IN  HONOR  OF 

JOHN  S.  TERRY 

CLASS  OF  1918 


THE  UNIVERSITY  OF 
NORTH  CAROLINA  LIBRARY 


UNIVERSITY  OF  N.C.  AT  CHAPEL  HILL 


°l 


00022093173 
0 


d-A^S 


THE 


YOUNG  ADVENTURER 


OK, 


TOM'S  TRIP  ACROSS  THE  PLAINS, 


BY 

HORATIO    ALGER,  Jr., 

AnHOR  OF  "BAG«KT>   DICK  SERIES,"   "TATTERED  TOM  SERIES," 
"  LVCK  AND   PLV'CK  SERIES,"  ETC. 


THE  JOHN  C.  WINSTON  CO., 

PHILADELPHIA, 
CHICAGO,  TORONTO. 


FAMOUS  ALGER  BOOKS. 


RAGGED  DICK  SERIES.  By  Hoeatio  Alger,  Jr.  6  vols.  12mo.  Cloth. 
Ragged  Dick.  Rough  and  Ready. 

Fame  and  Fortune.  Ben  the  Luggage  Boy. 

Mark  the  Match  Boy.  Rufus  and  Rose. 


TATTERED  TOM  SERIES. 

Cloth.    First  Series. 
Tattered  Tom. 
Paul  the  Peddler. 

TATTERED  TOM  SERIES. 

Julius. 

The  Young  Outlaw. 


By  Horatio  Alger,  Jr.    4  vols.    12mo. 

Phil  the  Fiddler. 
Slow  and  Sure. 

4  vols.    12mo.    Cloth.    Second  Series, 
Sam's  Chance. 
The  Telegraph  Boy. 


CAMPAIGN  SERIES.    By  Horatio  Alger,  Jr.    3  vols. 

Frank's  Campaign.  Charlie  Codman's  Cruise. 

Paul  Prescott's  Charge. 


LUCK  AND  PLUCK  SERIES. 

Cloth.    First  Series. 
Luck  and  Pluck. 
Sink  or  Swim. 

LUCK  AND  PLUCK  SERIES. 

Try  and  Trust. 
Bound  to  Rise. 


By  Horatio  Alger,  Jr.  4  vols.  12mo. 

Strong  and  Steady. 
Strive  and  Succeed. 

4  vols.    12mo.   Cloth.  Second  Series. 
Risen  from  the  Ranks. 
Herbert  Carter's  Legacy. 


BRAVE  AND  BOLD  SERIES.  By  Horatio  Alger,  Jr.   4  vols.   12mo. 
Cloth. 
Brave  and  Bold.  Shifting  for  Himself. 

Jack's  Ward.  Wait  and  Hope. 

PACIFIC  SERIES.    By  Horatio  Alger,  Jr.    4  vols.    12mo. 
The  Young  Adventurer.  The  Young  Explorers. 

The  Young  Miner.  Ben's  Nugget. 

ATLANTIC  SERIES.     By  Horatio  Alger,  Jr.    4  vols. 

The  Young  Circus  Rider.  Hector's  Inheritance. 

Do  and  Dare.  Helping  Himself. 


WAY  TO  SUCCESS  SERIES. 

Cloth. 
Bob  Burton. 
The  Store  Boy. 


By  Horatio  Alger,  Jr.   4y»ls.   12mo. 

Luke  Walton. 
Struggling  Upward. 


NEW  WORLD  SERIES. 

Digging  for  Gold. 


By  Horatio  Alger,  Jr.  3  vols.  12mo.  Cloth. 
Facing  the  World.      In  a  New  World. 


Other  Volumes  in  Preparation. 


Copyright  by  A.  K.  Loring,  1878. 


lo 


MY    YOUNG     FKIEND8, 


GRACE    AND    GILBERT    HITCHCOCK, 


OF      OMAHA, 


This      V  o  l  u 


IS      A  FF  ECTI  ON  ATE  L  T      DEDICATED. 


Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 

in  2011  with  funding  from 

University  of  North  Carolina  at  Chapel  Hill 


http://www.archive.org/details/youngadventureroOalge 


PREFACE. 


"The  Young  Adventurer"  is  the  initial 
volume  of  a  series  of  four  stories  relating  to 
the  Pacific  coast  and  the  intervening  country. 
The  writer  spent  several  months  of  1877  in 
a  visit  to  California,  Oregon,  and  Washington 
Territory,  with  a  view  of  gathering  materials 
for  the  Pacific  Series.  He  was  fortunate  in 
making  the  acquaintance  of  several  pioneers 
who  made  the  overland  journey  in  1849  and 
1850,  and  found  their  graphic  accounts  of 
interest  and  value.  No  part  of  our  country 
was  settled  under  more  romantic  circumstan- 
ces, and  none  certainly  affords  a  more  favor- 
able field  for  the  story-writer.  If  the  present 
series  does  not  prove  attractive  to  his  young 
friends,    the   writer    is    ready   to    acknowledge 

696726 


6  PREFACE. 

that  the   fault   will    be   his,   and    not  that   of 
the   subject. 

The  present  volume  chronicles  the  adven- 
tures of  Tom  Nelson  in  crossing  the  conti- 
nent in  1850,  when  months  were  required 
for  the  journey.  The  next  volume  will  re- 
cord his   experiences  in  the   Golden  State. 

N*w  Tout,  Sept.  25,  1876. 


THE  YOUNG  ADVENTURER; 

OB, 

TOM'S   TRIP   ACROSS   THE   PLAINS. 


CHAPTER  I. 

MARK   NELSONS  FAMILY. 

"  I  wish  I  could  pay  off  the  mortgage  on  my 
farm,"  said  Mark  Nelson,  soberly,  taking  his  seat 
on  the  left  of  the  fireplace,  in  the  room  where  hia 
wife  and,  family  were  assembled. 

"Have  you  paid  the  interest,  Mark?"  asked  his 
wife. 

"  Yes  ;  I  paid  it  this  afternoon,  and  it  has  stripped 
me  of  money  completely.  I  have  less  than  five  dol- 
lars in  my  pocket-book  towards  buying  you  and  the 
children  clothes  for  the  winter." 

"  Never  mind  me,"  said  his  wife,  cheerfully.  "  I 
am  pretty  well  provided  for." 


10  THE    YOUNG   ADVENTURER;    OR, 

"  Why,  mother,"  said  Sarah,  the  oldest  daughter, 
a  girl  of  fourteen  ;  "  you  haven't  had  a  new  dress  for 
»  year." 

"  I  have  enough  to  last  me  till  spring,  at  any  rate," 
said  the  mother. 

"  You  never  buy  anything  for  yourself." 

"I  don't  go  in  rags,  do  I?"  asked  Mrs.  Nelson, 
with  a  smile. 

Mrs.  Nelson  had  a  happy  disposition,  which  led 
her  to  accept  uncomplainingly,  and  even  cheerfully, 
the  sacrifices  which,  as  the  wife  of  a  farmer  in 
poor  circumstances,  she  was  compelled  to  make. 

'•You  are  right,  Sarah,"  said  Mark  Nelson. 
"Your  mother  never  seems  to  think  of  herself. 
She  might  have  been  much  better  off  if  she  had  not 
married  me." 

The  children  did  not  understand  this  allusion. 
They  had  never  been  told  that  their  mother  had 
received  an  offer  from  Squire  Hudson,  the  wealthiest 
man  in  the  village,  but  had  chosen  instead  to  marry 
Mark  Nelson,  whose  only  property  was  a  small  farm, 
mortgaged  for  half  its  value.  Her  rejected  admirer 
took  the  refusal  hard,  for,  as  much  as  it  was  possible 


Tom's  trip  across  the  plains.  \\ 

for  him,  he  loved  the  prettiest  girl  in  the  village,  as 
Mary  Dale  was  generally  regarded.  But  Mary  knew 
him  to  be  cold  and  selfish,  and  could  not  make  up 
her  mind  to  marry  him.  If  she  had  done  so,  she 
would  now  be  living  in  the  finest  house  in  the  village, 
with  the  chance  of  spending  the  winter  in  New  York 
or  Boston,  instead  of  drudging  in  an  humble  home, 
where  there  was  indeed  enough  to  eat,  but  little 
money  for  even  necessary  purposes.  She  had  never 
regretted  her  decision.  Her  husband,  though  poor, 
was  generally  respected  and  liked,  while  the  squire, 
though  his  money  procured  him  a  certain  degree 
of  consideration,  had  no  near  or  attached  friends. 

To  Squire  Hudson  many  in  the  village  paid 
tribute;  for  he  held  mortgages  on  twenty  farms 
and  buildings,  and  was  strict  in  exacting  prompt 
payment  of  the  interest  semi-annually.  It  was  he 
to  whom  Mark  Nelson's  farm  was  mortgaged  for 
two  thousand  dollars.  The  mortgage  had  originally 
been  for  fifteen  hundred  dollars,  but  five  years 
before  it  had  been  increased  to  two  thousand,  which 
represented  more  than  half  the  sum  which  it  would 
have  fetched,  if  put  up  for  sale.     The  interest  on 


12  the  younu  adventurer;  or, 

this  sum  amounted  to  a  hundred  and  twenty  dol- 
lars a  year,  which  Mark  Nelson  always  found  it 
hard  to  raise.  Could  he  have  retained  it  in  his 
hands,  and  devoted  it  to  the  use  of  his  family, 
it  would  have  helped  them  wonderfully,  with  Mrs. 
Nelson's  good  management. 

Tom,  the  oldest  boy,  now  approaching  his  six- 
teenth birthday,  looked  up  from  a  book  he  was 
reading.  He  was  a  bright-looking  boy,  with  brown 
hair,  a  ruddy  complexion,  and  dark-blue  eyes,  who 
looked,  and  was,  frank  and  manly. 

"What  is  the  amount  of  your  interest?"  he 
asked. 

"  Sixty  dollars  every  half  year,  Tom.  That  is 
what  I  paid  to  Squire  Hudson  this  afternoon. 
It  would  have  made  us  very  comfortable,  if  I 
only  could  have  kept  it." 

"  It  would  have  done  you  more  good  than  the 
squire,"   said  Sarah. 

"He  has  more  money  than  he  knows  what  to 
do  with,"  said  her  father,  almost  complainingly. 
"It  seems  hard  that  money  should  be  so  unevenly 
distributed." 


TOUS    TRIP  ACROSS   THE   PLAWS.  18 

"Money  is  not  happiness,"  said  Mrs.  Nelson, 
quietly 

"  No ;  but  it  helps  to  buy  happiness." 

"I  don't  think  Squire  Hudson  is  as  happy  a 
man  as  you,  Mark." 

Mark  Nelson's  face  softened  as  he  surveyed  his 
wife  and  children. 

"I  am  happy  at  home,"  he  said,  "  and  I  don't 
think  the  squire  is." 

"I  am  sure  he  isn't,"  said  Tom.  "Mrs.  Hudson 
is  sour  and  ill-tempered,  and  Sinclair  (the  only 
child)  is  a  second  edition  of  his  mother.  He  is 
the  most  unpopular  boy  in  the  village." 

"  Still,"  said  the  farmer,  not  quite  convinced, 
"  money  is  an  important  element  of  happiness,  and 
a  farmer  stands  a  very  poor  chance  of  acquiring  it. 
Tom,  I  advise  you  not  to  be  a  farmer." 

"  I  don't  mean  to  be  if  I  can  help  it,"  said  Tom. 
"  I  am  ready  for  any  opening  that  offers.  I  hope 
some  day  to  pay  off  the  mortgage  on  the  farm,  and 
make  you  a  free  man,  father." 

"  Thank  you  for  your  good  intentions,  Tom ;  but 
two  thousand  dollars  is  a  large  sum  of  monej ." 


14  THE    YOUNG  ADVENTURER ;    OR, 

"I  know  it,  father;  but  I  was  reading  in  a  daily 
paper,  not  long  since,  of  a  boy,  as  poor  as  myself, 
who  was  worth  twenty-five  thousand  dollars  by  the 
time  he  was  thirty.  Why  shouldn't  this  happen  to 
me?" 

"Don't  build  castles  in  the  air,  Tom,"  said  his 
mother,   sensibly. 

"  At  least,  mother,  I  may  hope  for  good  luck' 
I  have  been  wanting  to  talk  to  yau  both  about 
my  future  prospects.  I  shall  be  sixteen  next  week, 
and  it  is  time  I  did  something." 

"You  are  doing  something,  —  working  on  the 
farm,  now,  Tom." 

"  That  don't  count.  Father  advises  me  not  to 
be  a  farmer,  and  I  agree  with  him.  I  think  I 
am  capable  of  making  my  way  in  the  world  in 
some  other  way,  where  I  can  earn  more  money. 
There  is  Walter,  who  likes  the  country,  to  stay 
with  you." 

Walter,  the  third  child,  was  now  twelve  years 
of  age,  with  decided  country  tastes. 

"I  would  like  to  be  a  farmer  as  well  as  any- 
thing,'   said    Walter.     "I    like    the    fresh    air.     I 


TOM'S   TRIP  ACROSS    THE  PLAINS.  16 

shouldn't  like  to  be  cooped  up  in  a  store,  or  to 
live  in  the  city.     Let  Tom  go  if  he  likes." 

"I  have  no  objection,"  said  Mr.  Nelson;  "but 
I  have  neither  money  nor  influence  to  help  him. 
He  will  have  to  make  his  own  way." 

"I  am  not  afraid  to  try,"  said  Tom,  coura- 
geously. "From  this  day  I  will  look  out  for  a 
chance,  if  you  and  mother  are  willing." 

"I  shall  not  oppose  your  wishes,  Tom,"  said 
Mrs.  Nelson,  gravely,  "though  it  will  be  a  sad 
day  for  me  when  you  leave  your  home." 

"That  isn't  the  way  to  look  at  it,  mother,"  said 
Tom.  "If  gold  pieces  grew  on  currant-bushes,  it 
wouldn't  be  necessary  for  me  to  leave  home  to 
make  a  living." 

"  I  wish  they  did,"  said  Harry,  a  boy  nine  years 
of  age. 

"What  would  you  do  then,  Harry?"   asked  hii 

brother,  smiling. 

"  I  would  buy  a  velocipede  and  a  pair  of  skates." 
"I  heard    of  a    boy  once  who  found    a  penny 

tn    the    field,    right    under    a     potato-vine,"     said 

Walter. 


16  THB  younq  adyknturkr;  om, 

"I  don't  believe  it,"  Baid  Harry. 
"It's  true,  for  I  was  the  boy." 
"Where  did  it  come  from?" 
"  Tom  put  it  there,  to  fool  me." 
"Won't  you  put  one  there  to  fool  me,  Tom?" 
asked  Harry. 

"  You  are  too  smart,  Harry,"  said  Tom,  laugh- 
ing. "  My  pennies  are  too  few  to  try  such  experi- 
ments. I  hope,  by  the  time  you  are  as  old  as 
Walter,  to  give  you  something  better." 

The  conversation  drifted  to  other  topics,  with 
which  we  are  not  concerned.  Tom,  however,  did 
not  forget  it.  He  felt  that  an  important  question 
had  that  evening  been  decided  for  him.  He  had 
only  thought  of  making  a  start  for  himself  hith- 
erto. Now  he  had  broached  the  subject,  and 
received  the  permission  of  his  father  and  mother. 
The  world  was  all  before  him  where  to  choose. 
His  available  capital  was  small,  it  is  true,  amounting 
only  to  thirty-seven  cents  and  a  jack-knife ;  but  he 
had,  besides,  a  stout  heart,  a  pair  of  strong  hands, 
an  honest  face,  and  plenty  of  perseverance,— not  » 
bad  equipment  for  a  young  adventurer. 


TOM'S   TRIP  ACROSS    TBS   PLAZWM.  17 


CHAPTER  H. 

TOM   FDTD8   A    WALLET   AMD    SEEKS   THE   OWNER. 

Since  the  time  of  which  I  am  writing,  oyer 
twenty-five  years  have  passed,  for  it  was  in  the 
year  1850  that  Tom  made  up  his  mind  to  leave 
home  and  seek  his  fortune.  The  papers  were  full 
of  the  new  gold  discoveries  in  the  new  country 
which  had  recently  been  added  to  the  great  republic. 
Thousands  were  hurrying  to  the  land  of  gold ;  men 
who  had  been  unfortunate  at  home,  or,  though 
moderately  well  situated,  were  seized  by  the  spirit 
of  adventure.  At  considerable  sacrifice  many  raised 
the  means  of  reaching  the  new  El  Dorado,  while 
others  borrowed  or  appropriated  the  necessary  sum. 
Some,  able  to  do  neither,  set  out  on  a  venture, 
determined  to  get  there  in  some  way. 

In  the  weekly  paper,  to  which  Mr.  Nelson  had 
for  years  been  a  subscriber,  Tom  had  read  a  good 
deal    about    California.      His    youthful    fancy    had 


18  THE    YOUNG   ADVENTURER ;    OJ?, 

been  wrought  upon  by  the  brilliant  pictures  of  a 
land  where  a  penniless  man  might,  if  favored  by 
fortune,  secure  a  competence  in  a  twelvemonth, 
and  he  ardently  wished  that  he,  too,  might  have 
the  chance  of  going  there.  It  was  a  wish,  but 
not  an  expectation.  It  would  cost  at  least  two 
hundred  dollars  to  reach  the  Pacific  coast,  and 
there  was  no  hope  of  getting  a  tithe  of  that  sum. 

"If  I  could  only  go  to  California,"  thought 
Tom,  "  I  would  make  my  way  somehow ;  I  would 
cheerfully  work  twelve  hours  a  day.  I  don't  see 
why  a  boy  can't  dig  gold,  as  well  as  a  man.  If 
somebody  would  lend  me  money  enough  to  get 
there,  I  could  afford  to  pay  high  interest." 

There  was  one  man  in  Wilton  who  might  lend 
him  the  money  if  he  would.  That  man  was  Squire 
Hudson.  He  always  had  money  on  hand  in  con- 
siderable quantities,  and  two  hundred  dollars  would 
be  nothing  to  him.  Tom  would  not  have  dreamed 
of  applying  to  him,  however,  but  for  a  service 
which  just  at  th\s  time  he  was  able  to  render 
the   squire. 

Tom  had  been  in  search  of  huckleberries,  — for 


tom's  trip  across  the  plains.  19 

this  was  the  season,  —  when,  in  a  narrow  country- 
road,  not  much  frequented,  his  attention  was  drawn 
to  an  object  lying  in  the  road.  His  heart  bounded 
with  excitement  when  he  saw  that  it  wa3  a  well- 
filled  pocket-book.  He  was  not  long  in  securing 
it. 

Opening  the  wallet,  he  found  it  was  absolutely 
stuffed  with  bank-bills,  some  of  large  denomination. 
There  were,  besides,  several  papers,  to  which 
he  paid  but  little  attention.  They  assured  him, 
however,  as  he  had  afready  surmised,  that  the 
wallet   was    the   property   of    Squire   Hudson. 

"I  wonder  how  much  money  there  is  here," 
thought  Tom,    with   natural  curiosit}'. 

He  stepped  into  the  woods,  to  avoid  notice,  and 
carefully  counted  the  bills.  There  were  two 
hundred-doilar-bills,  and  three  fifties,  and  so  many 
of  smaller  denominations  that  Tom  found  the 
whole  to  amount  to  five  hundred  and  sixty-seven 
dollars. 

"Almost  six  hundred  dollars!"  ejaculated  Tom, 
in  excitement,  for  he  had  never  seen  so  much 
money  before.     "  How  happy  should  I  be  if  I  had 


20  TSE    YOUNG   ADVENTURER;    OR, 

as  much  money !  How  rich  the  squire  is  I  He 
ought  to  be   a  happy  man." 

Then  the  thought  stole  into  our  hero's  mind, 
that  the  wallet  contained  nearly  three  times  as 
much  as  he  would  need  to  take  him  to  California. 

"If  it  were  only  mine!"  he  thought  to  himself. 

Perhaps  Tom  ought  to  have  been  above  temp- 
tation, but  he  was  not.  For  one  little  instant  he  was 
tempted  to  take  out  two  hundred  dollars,  and  then 
drop  the  wallet  where  he  had  picked  it  up.  No  one 
would  probably  find  out  where  the  missing  money 
was.  But  Tom  had  been  too  well  brought  up  to  yield 
to  this  temptation.  Not  even  the  thought  that 
he  might,  perhaps  within  a  year,  return  the  money 
with   interest,    prevailed   upon   him. 

"  It  wouldn't  be  honest,"  he  decided,  "  and  if 
I  began  in  that  way  I  could  not  expect  that  God 
would  prosper  me.  If  that  is  the  only  way  by 
which  I  can  go  to  California  I  must  make  up 
my  mind  to   stay  at  home." 

So  the  question  was  settled  in  Tom's  mind. 
The  money  must  be  returned  to  the  owner.  His 
pail  was  nearlj   full  of  huckleberries,  but  he  post* 


TOM'S   TRIP  ACROSS   THE   PLAINS.  21 

poned  going  home,  for  he  felt  that  Squire  Hudson 
would  be  feeling  anxious  about  his  loss,  and  he 
thought  it  his  duty  to  go  and  return  the  money 
first  of  all.  Accordingly  he  made  his  way  directly 
to  the  imposing  residence  of  the  rich   man. 

Passing  up  the  walk  which  led  to  the  front 
door  Tom  rang  the  bell.  This  was  answered  by 
a  cross-looking  servant.  She  glanced  at  the  pail 
of  berries,  and  said  quickly,  "  We  don't  want  any 
berries,  and  if  we  did  you  ought  to  go  round  to 
the   side    door." 

"  I  haven't  asked  you  to  buy  any  berries,  have 
I?"  said  Tom,  rather  provoked  by  the  rudeness 
of  the  girl,  when  he  had  come  to  do  the  squire 
a  favor. 

"No,  but  that's  what  you're  after.  We  have 
bought  all  we  want." 

"  I  tell  you  I  didn't  come  here  to  sell  berries," 
said  Tom,  independently;  "I  picked  these  for  use 
at  home." 

"  Then  what  do  you  come  here  for,  anyway, 
takin  up  my  time  wid  comin'  to  the  door,  when 
Tm  busy  gettin'   supper?" 


22  TBB    YOUNG   ADVENTURER;    0J», 

"I  want  to  see  Squire  Hudson." 

"I  don't  know  if  he's  at  home." 

"  Then  you'd  better  find  out,  and  not  keep  me 
waiting." 

"I  never  see  such  impudence,"  ejaculated  the 
girl. 

"  I  mean  what  I  say,"  continued  Tom,  stoutly. 
"  I  want  to  see  the  squire  on  important  business." 

"Much  business  you  have  wid  him!"  said  the 
girl,  scornfully. 

Tom  by  this  time  was  out  of  patience. 

"  Go  and  tell  your  master  that  I  wish  to  see 
him,"   he  said  firmly. 

"  Tve  a  great  mind  to  slam  the  door  in  your 
face,"  returned  Bridget,  angrily. 

"I  wouldn't  advise  you  to,"  said  Tom,  calmly. 

A  stop  was  put  to  the  contention  by  an  irritable 
voice. 

"What's  all  this,  hey?  Who's  at  the  door, 
Bridget?" 

"A  boy  wid  berries,  sir." 

"Tell  him  I  don't  want  any." 

"I  have  told  him,   and  he  won't  go." 


TOM'S   TRIP  ACROSS    THE  PIUINB.  28 

"Won't  go,  hey?"  and  Squire  Hudson  came 
out  into  the  hall.  "What's  all  this,  I  say? 
Won't  go?" 

"I  wish  to  see  you,  sir,"  said  Tom,  undaunted. 
"  I  have  told  the  girl  that  I  didn't  come  here  to 
sell    berries ;  but  she  objects  to    my  seeing  you." 

Squire  Hudson  was  far  from  an  amiable  man, 
and  this  explanation  made  him  angry  with  the 
servant.    He   turned  upon  her  fiercely. 

"  What  do  you  mean,  you  trollop,"  he  demanded, 
"by  refusing  to  let  the  boy  see  me?  What  do  you 
mean  by  your  insolence,   I  say?" 

Bridget  was  overwhelmed,  for  the  squire's  tem- 
per  was   like   a  tornado. 

"  I  thought  he  wanted  to  sell  berries,"  she 
faltered. 

"That  isn't  true,"  said  Tom.  "I  told  you 
expressly  that  I  picked  the  berries  for  use  at 
home,   and  had  none  to  sell." 

"  Go  back  to  the  kitchen,  you  trollop  1 "  thun- 
dered the  squire.  "  You  deserve  to  go  to  jail 
for  your  outrageous   conduct." 

Bridget  did  not  venture  to  answer  a  word,  for 


24  the  younq  adventurer;  or, 

It  would  only  have  raised  a  more  violent  storm, 
but  retreated  crestfallen  to  her  own  realm,  and 
left  our  hero  in  possession  of  the  field.  She 
contented  herself  with  muttering  under  her  breath 
what  she  did  not  dare  to  speak  aloud. 

"You  are  Tom  Nelson,  are  you  not?"  asked 
the  squire,  adjusting  his  spectacles,  and  looking 
more  carefully  at  the  boy. 

"Yes,   sir." 

"Have  you  any  message  from  your  father?" 

"  No,  sir." 

"Then  why  did  you  come  here  to  take  up 
my  time?"    demanded  the   squire,  frowning. 

"I  came  to  do  you   a  service,  Squire  Hudson." 

"You  came  —  to  —  do  —  me  —  a  —  service?"  re- 
peated the   squire,  slowly. 

"Yes,   sir." 

"You  may  as  well  come  in,"  said  the  rich 
man,   leading  into  the  sitting-room. 

Tom  followed  him  into  a  handsomely  furnished 
room,  and  the  two  sat  down  opposite  eaoh  other. 


Ton's   TRIP  ACROSS   THE  PLAINS,  25 


CHAPTER    m. 

TOM  ASKS  A   LOAN   FROM  A   CAPITALIST. 

"I  don't  know  what  service  you  can  do  me," 
said   Squire  Hudson,   incredulously. 

His  manner  implied :  "I  am  a  rich  man  and 
you  are  a  poor  boy.  How  can  you  possibly 
serve  me  ?  " 

"Have  you  lost  anything  lately?"  inquired 
Tom,   coming  at  once   to   business. 

I  suppose  most  men,  when  asked  such  a  ques- 
tion, would  first  think  of  their  pocket-books.  It 
was  so  with  Squire  Hudson.  He  hastily  thrust 
his  hand  into  his  pocket,  and  found  —  a  large 
hole,  through  which,  doubtless,  the  wallet  had 
slipped. 

"  I  have  lost   my   wallet,"    he  said,    anxiously 
"Have  you    found  it?" 

In  reply  Tom  produced  the  missing  article. 
The  squire  took  it  hurriedly,   and,  at  once   open* 


26  THE    YOUNG  ADVENTURER;   OR, 

ing  it,  counted  the  money.  It  was  all  there,  and 
he  heaved  a  sigh  of  relief,  for  he  was  a  man 
who  cared  for  money  more  than  most  people. 

"Where  did  you  find  it?"  he   asked. 

Tom  answered  the  question. 

"It  is  very  fortunate  you  came  along  before 
any  one  else  saw  it.  I  rode  that  way  on  horse- 
back this  morning.  I  told  Mrs.  Hudson  that  my 
pocket  needed  repairing,  but  she  put  it  off,  ac- 
cording to  her  usual  custom.  If  it  had  not  been 
found,  I  would  have  kept  her  on  short  allowance 
for  a  year  to  come." 

Tom  felt  rather  embarrassed,  for,  of  course,  it 
would  not  do  to  join  in  with  the  squire  in  his 
complaints  of  his  wife.  Suddenly  Squire  Hudson 
said,  eying  him  keenly,  "  Do  you  know  how 
much  money  there  is  in  this  wallet?" 

"Yes,   sir." 

"Then  you  counted  it?" 

"Yes,   sir." 

"Why  did  you  do  it?" 

"  I  wanted  to  know  how  much  there  was,  so 
that  no  one  might  blame  me  if  any  were  missing." 


TOM?  8   TRIP  ACROSS    THE  PLAINS.  27 

"Didn't  you  want  to  take  any?"  asked  the 
squire,   bluntly. 

'Yes,"   answered  Tom,  promptly. 

"Why  didn't  you?  For  fear  you  would  be 
found  out?" 

"  That  may  have  had  something  to  do  with  it, 
but  it  was  principally  because  it  would  have  been 
stealing,   and   stealing   is  wrong." 

"  What  would  you  have  done  with  the  money 
if  you  had  taken  it?" 

"  Started  for  California  next  week,"  answered 
Tom,   directly. 

"Eh?"  ejaculated  the  squire,  rather  astonished. 
"Why  do  you  want  to  go  to  California,  —  a  boy 
like    you  ?  " 

"To  dig  gold.  I  suppose  a  boy  can  dig  gold, 
as  well  as  a  man.  There  doesn't  seem  to  be 
much  chance  for  me  here.  There's  nothing  to  do 
but  to  work  on  the  farm,  and  father  and  Wal- 
ter can  do  all  there  is  to  be  done  there." 

"How  is  your  father  getting  along?"  asked 
the  rich  man,  with  an  interest  which  rather  sur- 
prised Tom. 


28  THE    YOUNQ   ADVENTURER ;    OH, 

"  Poorly,"  said  Tom.  "  He  makes  both  ends 
meet ;  but  we  all  have  to  do  without  a  great 
many  things  that  we  need." 

The  squire  looked  thoughtful.  He  took  half  a 
dollar  from   his   wallet   and   tendered   it   to  Tom. 

"  You've  done  me  a  service,"  he  said.  "  Take 
that." 

Tom  drew  back. 

"I  would  rather  not  take  money  for  being 
honest,"  he  said. 

"That's  all  nonsense,"  said  Squire  Hudson, 
sharply. 

"  That's  the  way  I  feel  about  it,"  said  Tom, 
stoutly. 

"Then  you're   a  fool." 

"I  hope  not,   sir." 

"This  would  have  been  quite  a  large  loss  to 
me.  I  am  perfectly  willing  to  give  you  this 
money." 

Then  Tom  gathered  courage  and  said  boldly, 
"  You  can  do  me  a  great  favor,  Squire  Hudson, 
If  you   choose." 

"What    is   it?" 


TOM'S    TRIP  ACROSS    THE    PLAINS.  29 

"Lend  me  enough  money  to  go  to  California," 
said  Tom,   nervously. 

44  Good  gracious!  Is  the  boy  crazy?"  ejaculated 
the   astonished  squire. 

44  No  sir,  I  am  not  crazy.  I'll  tell  you  what 
my  plans  are.  I  shall  go  to  work  directly  I  get 
there,  and  shall  devote  the  first  money  I  make 
to  paying  you.  Of  course  I  shall  expect  to  pay 
high  interest.  I  am  willing  to  pay  you  three 
hundred  dollars  for  two ;  unless  I  am  sick,  I 
think   I   can   do   it  inside   of    twelve   months." 

44  How  much  money  do  you  suppose  you  will 
need   for   this  wild-goose   expedition?" 

44  About  two  hundred  dollars,  sir;  and,  as  I 
just   said,   I   will   give  you   my   note   for  three." 

44  A  boy's   note   is   worth   nothing." 

44  Perhaps  it  isn't  in  law ;  but  I  wouldn't  rest 
till   it  was   paid   back." 

44 What   security   have   you   to   offer?" 

14  None,   sir,   except   my  word." 

44  Do  you  know  what  I  would  be  if  I  lent  you 
this   money?" 

44  You   wouH  be   very  kind." 


80  tme  young  adventurer ;  or, 

"  Pish !     I  shou'.d  be   a  fool." 
"  I  don't  think  you'd  lose   anything  by  it,    sir, 
but  of  course  I   can't    blame    you    for    refusing," 
and  Tom  rose  to  go. 

"Sit   down    again,"    said   the    squire;    "I   want 
to    talk  to    you    about    this    matter.     How    long 
have  you  been  thinking  of  California?" 
"Only  two  or  three  days,   sir." 
"  "What  made  you   think  of  it  ?  " 
"  I  wanted  to  help    father." 
"Who  has  told  you  about  California?" 
"I  have  read  about  it  in  the  papers." 
"  Have  you  spoken  to  your  father  about  going 
there?" 

"  I  have  spoken  to  him  about  leaving  home, 
and  seeking  my  fortune ;  but  I  have  not  men- 
tioned going  to  California,  because  I  thought  it 
impossible  to  raise  the  necessary  money." 
"  Of  course.  That's  sensible,  at  least." 
Squire  Hudson  rose  and  walked  thoughtfully 
about  the  room,  occasionally  casting  a  keen 
glance  at  Tom,  who  remained  sitting,  with  his 
pail  of  huckleberries   in   his  cap. 


TOlfS    TRIP  ACROSS    THE   PLAW8.  81 

After   a  while   the   squire   spoke   again. 

"Your  father  might  let  you  have  the  money," 
he  suggested. 

"  My  father  has  no  money  to  spare,"  said 
Tom,   quickly. 

"Couldn't  he  raise  some?" 

"  I   don't  know   how." 

"  Then  I'll  tell  you.  I  hold  a  mortgage  for 
two  thousand  dollars  on  his  farm.  I  suppose 
you   know  that  ?  " 

"Yes,   sir." 

"  I  might  be  willing  to  increase  the  mortgage 
to  twenty-two  hundred,  and  he  could  lend  you 
the   extra   two  hundred." 

This  was  a  new  idea  to  Tom,  and  he  took  a 
little  time   to  think  it  over. 

"  I  don't  like  to  ask  father  to  do  that,"  he 
said.  "  He  finds  it  very  hard  now  to  pay  the 
interest  on  the  mortgage." 

"I  thought  you  intended  to  pay  up  the  money 
in   a  year,"   said   the   squire,    sharply. 

"So  T  do,"  said  Tom,  and  he  began  to  thi** 
more  favorably  of   the  plan. 


82  the  yovno  adventurer;  oj», 

"In  that  case  your  father  wouldn't  suffer." 

"  You  are  right,  sir.  If  father  would  only 
consent  to  do  so  I  should  be  happy.  But  I 
might  die." 

"  Your  father  would  have  to  take  the  risk  of 
that.     You  can't  expect  me  to." 

This  seemed  fair  enough,  and  in  fact  the  dan- 
ger didn't  seem  very  great  to  Tom.  He  was 
about  sixteen ;  and  to  a  boy  of  sixteen  death 
seems  very  far  off,  provided  he  is  strong  and 
vigorous,  as  Tom  was.  He  rapidly  decided  that 
the  squire's  offer  was  not  to  be  refused  without 
careful  consideration.  It  opened  to  him  a  career 
which  looked  bright  and  promising.  Once  in  Cali- 
fornia, what  could  he  not  do?  Tom  was  hopeful 
and  sanguine,  and  did  not  allow  himself  to  think 
of  failure. 

"  I  understand  that  you  are  willing  to  advance 
the  money,  Squire  Hudson?"  he  said,  determined 
to  know  just  what   to   depend  upon. 

"  I  will  advance  two  hundred  dollars,  on  con- 
dition that  your  father  will  secure  me  by  an  in- 
creased  mortgage.     It    is    no    particular   object    to 


TOM'S    TRIP  ACROSS    THE   PLAINS.  33 

me,  for  I  can  readily  invest  the  money  in   some 
other  way." 

"I  will  speak  to  father  about  it,  Squire  Hud- 
Bon,  and  meanwhile  I  am  thankful  to  you  for 
making  the  offer." 

41  Very  well.  Let  me  know  as  soon  as  possi- 
ble,"  said   the   squire,   carelessly. 

As  Tom  went  out  the  rich  man  soliloquized: 
14 1  have  no  faith  in  the  boy's  scheme,  and  I  don't 
believe  half  the  stories  they  tell  about  the  California 
mines ;  but  it  will  give  me  an  extra  hold  on  Nel- 
son, and  hasten  the  day  when  the  farm  will 
come  into  my  hands.  When  Mary  Nelson  refused 
my  hand  I  resolved  some  day  to  have  my  re- 
venge. I  have  waited  long,  but  it  will  come  at 
last.  When  she  and  her  children  are  paupers 
■he  may  regret  the  slight  she  put  upon  me." 
8 


$4  THE    YOUNG  ADVENTURER /    ©A, 


CHAPTER    IV. 

TOM   ASKS    LEAVE    OF    ABSENCE. 

Tom  walked  home  slowly,  but  the  distance  seemed 
«hort,  for  he  was  absorbed  in  thought.  In  a  way 
very  unexpected  he  seemed  to  be  likely  to  realize 
what  he  had  regarded  as  a  very  pleasant  but 
impossible  dream.  Would  his  father  consent  to 
the  squire's  proposal,  and,  if  so,  ought  Tom  to 
consent  to  expose  him  to  the  risk  of  losing  so 
considerable  a  sum  of  money  ?  If  he  had  been  older 
and  more  cautious  he  would  probably  have  decided 
in  the  negative ;  but  Tom  was  hopeful  and  san- 
guine, and  the  stories  he  had  heard  of  California 
had  dazzled  him.  There  was,  of  course,  an 
element  of  uncertainty  in  his  calculations,  but  the 
fact  that  there  seemed  to  be  no  prospect  before 
him  in  his  native  village  had  an  important  influence 
in  shaping  his   decision. 

To    ask    his     father     the     momentous     question, 


TOM'S    TRIP  ACROSS    THE   PLAINS.  85 

however,  was  not  easy,  and  he  delayed  it,  hoping 
for  a  favorable  opportunity  of  introducing  the 
subject.  His  thoughtful  manner  excited  attention, 
and   secured   him   the   opportunity   he   sought. 

"  You  seem  deep  in  thought,  Tom,"  said  his 
mother. 

"  Yes,  mother,  I  have  a  good  deal  to  think  about." 

44  Anybody  would  think  Tom  overwhelmed  with 
business,"  said  Walter,  next  to  Tom  in  age, 
with   good-humored   banter. 

44 1   am,"   said  Tom,   gravely. 

44  Won't  you  take  me  in  partnership,  then?** 
asked   Walter. 

Tom   smiled. 

44 1  don't  think  I  could  do  that,"  he  answered. 
44  Not  to  keep  you  waiting,  Squire  Hudson  has 
made  me   a   business  proposal   this  afternoon." 

All  were  surprised,  and  looked  to  Tom  for  an 
explanation. 

"  He  offers  to  advance  me  two  hundred  dollars 
for   a  year,   to  help   me  out  to   California." 

44  Squire  Hudson  makes  this  offer  to  a  boy  of 
your   age?"   said   his    father,   slowly. 


36  THE    YOUNG   ADVENTURER;    Oil, 

"Yes,  or  rather  he  makes  the  offer  to  you." 

"To  me?" 

"Perhaps  you  will  think  me  selfish  for  even 
mentioning  it,"  said  Tom,  rapidly,  in  a  hurry  to 
explain  fully  now  that  the  ice  was  broken.  "  He 
will  advance  the  money,  on  condition  that  you 
increase  the  mortgage  on  the  farm  to  twenty-two 
hundred   dollars." 

Mr.   Nelson  looked  blank. 

"  Do  you  know,  Tom,"  he  said,  "  how  hard  I 
find  it  now  to  pay  the  interest  on  the  mortgage, 
and    how   hopeless   I   am   of    ever  paying   it   off?" 

"I  know  all  that,  father;  but  I  want  to  help 
you.  If  I  keep  my  health,  and  have  a  chance, 
I  think  I  can  help  you.  There's  no  chance  for 
me  here,  and  there  is  a  chance  in  California. 
You  remember  what  we  have  read  in  'The 
Weekly  Messenger'  about  the  gold  fields,  and 
what    large   sums    have   been   realized   by   miners." 

"They  are   men,    and   you   are   a   boy." 

"That's  true,"  said  Tom,  "but,"  he  added,  with 
natural  pride,  "I  am  pretty  strong  for  a  boy. 
I  am  willing    to    work,    and    I    don't    see   why  I 


TOM'S    TRIP  ACROSS    THE  PLAINS.  37 

can  t  dig  gold  as  well  as  a  man .  I  may  not 
make  as  much ;  but  if  I  only  do  half  as  well  as 
some  that  we  have  read  about,  I  can  do  a 
good   deal    for  you." 

"How  far  off  is  California?"  asked  Mrs.  Nelson. 

"Over  three  thousand  miles,  across  the  con- 
tinent," answered  her  husband.  "  By  sea  it  is 
a  good   deal   more." 

"  Why,  it  is  as  far  off  as  Europe,"  said  Walter, 
who  was   fresh   from   his   lesson   in   geography. 

"It  is  farther  than  some  parts  of  Europe, — 
England,    for  example,"  said   his   father. 

"And  a  wild,  unsettled  region,"  said  Mrs. 
Nelson,   soberly. 

"  I  don't  think  so  much  of  that,"  said  Mark 
Nelson.  "  Tom  is  no  baby.  He  is  a  boy  of 
good  sense,  not  heedless,  like  some  of  his  age, 
and  I  should  feel  considerable  confidence  in  his 
getting   along   well." 

"  What,  Mark,  are  you  in  favor  of  his  going 
so  far,  —  a  boy  who  has  never  been  away  from 
home   in   his   life  ? " 

"  I  don't    know   what   to   say.     I    have  not  had 


99  THE    TOUNO   ADVENTURER',    OR, 

time  to  consider  the  matter,  as  it  has  come  upon 
me  suddenly.  I  have  a  good  deal  of  confidence  in 
Tcm,   but   there   is   one   difficulty   in   my   mind." 

"What  is  that,  father?"  asked  Tom,  anxiously. 

"  The  expense  of  getting  to  California,  and  the 
method  of  raising  the  money ;  I  don't  like  to 
increase  the  mortgage." 

"  I  suppose  you  are  right,  father,"  said  Tom, 
slowly.  "  I  know  it  is  more  than  I  have  any 
right  to  ask.  I  wouldn't  even  have  mentioned  it 
if  I  hadn't  hoped  to  help  you  to  pay  it  back." 

"That  is  understood,  Tom,"  said  his  father, 
kindly.  "  I  know  you  mean  what  you  say,  and 
that  you  would  redeem  your  promise  if  fortune, 
or  rather  Providence,  permitted.  It  is  a  serious 
matter,  however,  and  not  to  be  decided  in  a  hurry. 
We  will   speak   of  it   again." 

Nothing  more  was  said  about  Tom's  plan  till 
after  the  children  had  gone  to  bed.  Then,  as 
Mark  Nelson  and  his  wife  sat  before  the  fire  in 
the  open  fireplace,  the  subject  was   taken  up  anew. 

"  Mary,"  said  Mark,  "  I  am  beginning  to  think 
favorably  of  Tom's  proposal." 


TOJ/S    TRIP  ACROSS    THE   PLAINS.  89 

"How  can  you  say  so,  Mark?"  interrupted  his 
wife.  "  It  seems  like  madness  to  send  a  young 
boy  so  far  away." 

"Tom  can't  be  called  a  young  boy;  he  is  now 
sixteen." 

"But  he   has   never  been   away   from  home." 

"  He   must  go   sometime." 

"  If  it  were  only  to  Boston,  or  New  York ;  but 
to  go  more  than  three  thousand  miles  away !  "  and 
the  mother  shuddered. 

"  There  are  dangers  as  great  in  Boston  or  New 
York  as  in  California,  Mary,  to  a  boy  of  Tom's 
age.  He  can't  always  be  surrounded  by  home 
influences." 

"I  wish  we  could  find  employment  for  him  in 
town,"   said   Mrs.   Nelson,   uneasily. 

"That  is  a  mother's  thought,  and  it  would  be 
pleasant  for  all  of  us ;  but  I  doubt  if  it  would 
^e   better   for   Tom." 

"Why   not?" 

"  A  boy  who  is  thrown  upon  his  own  guardian- 
ship and  his  own  resources  develops  manliness 
and    self-reliance    sooner   than    at    home.     But   ws 


40  THE    YOUNG   ADVENTURER  ',    OR, 

need  not  take  that  into  consideration ;  there  is 
nothing  to  do  here,  nor  is  there  likely  to  be. 
He  must  go  away  from  home  to  find  employment. 
To  obtain  a  place  in  Boston  or  New  York  requires 
influence  and  friends  in  those  places ;  and  we  can 
hope  for  neither.  In  California  he  will  become  his 
own  employer.  The  gold  mines  are  open  to  all, 
and  he  may  earn  in  a  year  as  much  as  he  could 
In  five  years  in  the  East." 

44  Do  you   favor  his  going,  then,   Mark?" 

"  Not  against  your  will,  Mary.  Indeed,  I  should 
not  feel  justified  in  increasing  the  mortgage  upon 
our  little  property  against  your  wish.  That  con- 
cerns us   all." 

"  I  don't  think  so  much  of  that.  I  am  so  afraid 
Tom  would  get  sick  in  California.  What  would 
become   of  the   poor   boy   in   that   case?" 

"  That  is  a  mother's  thought.  I  think  Tom 
would  find  friends,  who  would  not  let  him  suffer. 
He  is  a  manly,  attractive  boy,  though  he  is  ours, 
and  I  think  he  is  well  calculated  to  make  his  way." 

"  That  he  is,"  said  the  mother,  proudly.  »'  No 
one  can  help  liking  Tom." 


TOMS    TRIP  ACROSS    THE   PLAINS.  41 

"Then  you  see  he  is  likely  to  find  friends. 
Were  he  such  a  boy  as  Sinclair  Hudson,  1  should 
feel  afraid  that  he  wouid  fare  badly,  if  he  stood 
in  need  of  help  from  others.  Sinclair  is  certainly 
a  very  disagreeable   boy." 

"  Yes,  he  is ;  and  he  isn't  half  as  smart  as  Tom." 

"  A  mother's  vanity,"  said  Mark  Nelson,  smiling. 
"  However,  you  are  right  there.  I  should  consider 
it  a  misfortune  to  have  such  a  cross-grained,  selfish 
son  as  Sinclair.  Squire  Hudson,  with  all  his  wealth, 
is  not  fortunate  in  his  only  child.  There  is  con- 
siderable resemblance  between  father .  and  son.  I 
often  wish  that  some  one  else  than  the  squire 
held   the   mortgage  on   our   farm." 

"You   don't  think   he  would   take   advantage  of 


you 


?" 


"  I  don't  think  he  would  be  very  lenient  to 
me  if  I  failed  to  pay  interest  promptly.  He  has 
a  grudge   against   me,   you   know." 

"That  is  nonsense,"  said  Mrs.  Nelson,  blushing, 
for  she   understood   the   allusion. 

"I  am  glad  he  doesn't  ask  me  to  give  him  • 
mortgage  on  yon,  Mary." 


42  THE    YOZTNG    ADVENTURER;    OR, 

11  He  has  forgotten  all  that,"  said  Mrs.  Nelson. 
"I  am  no  longer  young  and  pretty." 

"I  think  you  more  attractive  than  ever,"  said 
the   husband. 

"  Because  you  are  foolish,"  said  his  wife ;  but 
she  was  well  pleased,  nevertheless.  Poor  as  her 
husband  was,  she  had  never  dreamed  of  regretting 
her  choice. 

"Be  it  so;  but  about  this  affair  of  Tom,  —  what 
shall  I  say  to  him  in  the  morning?" 

Mrs.   Nelson   recovered   her  gravity   instantly. 

"Decide  as  }Tou  think  right,  Mark,"  she  said. 
"  If  you  judge  that  Tom  had  better  go  I  will  do 
my  best  to  become  reconciled  to  his  absence,  and 
set   about  getting  him   ready." 

"It  is  a  great  responsibility,  Mary,"  said  Mark, 
slowly ;  "  but  I  accept  it.  Let  the  boy  go,  if 
he  wishes.  He  will  leave  our  care,  but  we  can 
trust  him  to  the  care  of  his  heavenly  Father,  who 
will  be  as  near  to  him  in  California  as  at 
home." 

Thus  Tom's  future  was  decided.  His  father  and 
mother  retired    to  bed,   but   not  to    sleep.      They 


TOM'S    TRIP  ACROSS    THE   PLAINS.  43 

were  parting  already  in  imagination  with  their  first- 
born, and  the  thought  of  that  parting  was  sad 
indeed. 


44  the  younq  adventurer;  oi. 


CHAPTER  V. 


TOM   RAISES   THE   MONET. 


Tom  got  up  early  the  next  morning  —  in  fact,  he 
was  up  first  in  the  house  —  and  attended  to  his  usual 
"  chores."  He  was  splitting  wood  when  his  father 
passed  him  on  the  way  to  the  barn  with  the  milk-pail 
in  his  hand. 

"You  are  up  early,  Tom,"  he  said. 

"Yes,"  answered  our  hero. 

Tom  could  not  help  wondering  whether  his  father 
had  come  to  any  decision  about  letting  him  go  to 
California ;  but  he  did  not  like  to  ask.  In  due 
time  he  would  learn,  of  course.  He  felt  that  he 
should  like  to  have  it  decided  one  way  or  the 
other.  While  his  plans  were  in  doubt  he  felt 
unsettled  and  nervous. 

At  an  early  hour  the  family  gathered  about  the 
breakfast-table.  Tom  noticed  that  his  father  and 
mother  looked  grave,  and  spoke  in  a  subdued  tone. 


IVJ^S    TRIP  ACROSS    THE   PLAINS.  45 

as  if  they  had  something  on  their  minds ;  but  he 
did  not  know  what  to  infer  from  this,  except  that 
they  had  his  prospects  still  in  consideration. 

When  breakfast  was  over,  Mark  Nelson  pushed 
back  his  chair,  and  said,  "  How  soon  can  you  get 
Tom  ready  to  start,  Mary?" 

"Am  I  going,  father?"  asked  Tom,  his  heart 
giving  an  eager  bound. 

41  Is  Tom  really  going?"  asked  the  younger 
children,  with  scarcely  less  eagerness. 

"  If  Squire  Hudson  doesn't  go  back  on  his  promise. 
Tom,  you  can  go  with  me  to  the  squire's." 

"  How  soon?" 

"  In  about  an  hour.  He  doesn't  breakfast  as  early 
as  we  do.  I  think  he  will  be  ready  to  receive  us  in 
about  an  hour." 

"  Thank  you,  father,"  said  Tom.  "  You  are  doing 
a  great  deal  for  me." 

"  I  can't  do  much  for  you,  my  boy.  I  can 
probably  get  you  to  California,  and  then  you  will 
be  thrown  upon  your  own  exertions." 

"  I  mean  to  work  very  hard.  I  think  I  shall 
succeed. " 


46  TBK    YOUNG   ADVENTURER /    OJ«, 

"I  hope  so,  at  least,  Tom.  When  the  time  comes 
to  start  the  other  boys,  I  shall  be  glad  to  have  your 
help  in  doing  it." 

Tom  was  pleased  to  hear  this,  though  it  placed 
upon  his  shoulders  a  new  and  heavy  responsibility. 
He  was  assuming  the  responsibility  not  only  for  his 
own  future,  but  for  that  of  his  brothers.  But  it 
made  him  feel  more  manly,  as  if  the  period  of  his 
dependent  boyhood  were  over,  and  he  had  become 
a  young  man  all  at  once. 

"  I  hope  I  shan't  disappoint  you,  father,"  he  said. 

"  If  you  do,  I  don't  think  it  will  be  your  fault, 
Tom,"  said  his  father,  kindly.  u  Fortune  may  be 
against  you ;  but  we  must  take  the  risk  of  that." 

"  I  don't  know  what  to  think  about  it,  Tom," 
said  his  mother,  in  a  tone  of  doubt  and  mental 
disturbance.  "  I  feel  as  if  you  were  too  young  to 
go  out  in  the  wide  world  to  seek  your  fortune." 

* '  I  am  not  so  very  young,  mother.  I  am  old 
enough  to  make  my  wap." 

"So  your  father  says,  and  I  have  yielded  to  his 
judgment ;  but,  Tom,  I  don't  know  how  to  let  you 
go." 


TOlfS    TRIP   ACROSS    THE   PLAINS.  47 

There  were  tears  in  Mrs.  Nelson's  eyes  as  she 
spoke.  Tom  was  moved,  and  if  he  needed  anything 
to  strengthen  him  in  the  good  resolutions  he  had 
formed,  his  mother's  emotion  supplied  it. 

"  You  shan't  regret  giving  your  consent,  mother," 
he  said  manfully,  and,  rising  from  his  seat,  he  went 
to  his  mother  and  kissed  her. 

"Mary,"  said  Mr.  Nelson,  "you  haven't  answered 
my  question.  How  long  will  it  take  to  get  Tom 
read}'?  If  he  is  to  go,  he  may  as  well  start  as 
soon  as  possible." 

"  Let  me  see,"  said  Mrs.  Nelson,  "  how  many  shirts 
have  you  got,  Tom?  " 

"Five." 

"  Are  they  all  in  good  order?  " 

"  I  believe  one  needs  mending." 

"  I  don't  know  whether  that  will  be  enough,"  said 
llrs.  Nelson,  doubtfully. 

"  Mary,"  said  her  husband,  "  don't  provide  too 
large  a  supply  of  clothing.  Tom  may  find  it  a 
burden.  Remember  in  California  he  will  have  to 
travel  on  foot  and  carry  his  own  baggage." 

"  Then  I  think  he  is  already  pretty  well  provided. 


48  THE    YOUNQ   ADVENTURER;    0*, 

But  some  of  his  clothes  may  need  mending.     That 
won't  take  long,  and  I  will  attend  to  it  at  once." 

"  Perhaps  Squire  Hudson  will  go  back  on  you, 
after  all,"  said  Walter. 

Tom's  face  was  overcast.  That  would  be  a  dig 
appointment  he  could  not  easily  bear. 

"I  shall  soon  know,"  he   said. 

An  hour  later  Tom  and  his  father  set  out  for 
Squire  Hudson's  residence.  Tom  felt  nervous ;  he 
could   not  well   help   it. 

"Tom,"  said  his  father,  "  this  is  an  important 
visit  for  you." 

"Yes,    sir,"  said   Tom. 

44  You  are  feeling  nervous,  I  see.  Try  to  take  it 
coolly,  and  don't  feel  too  low-spirited  if  things  don't 
turn  out  as  you  hope." 

"  I  will  try  to  follow  your  advice,  father,  but  I  am 
not  sure  as  I  can." 

44  If  you  are  disappointed,  try  to  think  it  is 
for  the  best.  A  boy  of  your  age  had  made  all 
arrangements  to  visit  Europe  with  a  party  of 
friends.  The  day  before  starting,  something  hap- 
pened  which    made  it    impossible   for    him   to  go- 


TOAf's    TRIP    ACROSS    1BK    PLAINS.  49 

For  weeks  he  had  been  looking  forward  with  eager 
anticipation  to  his  journey,  and  now  it  was  in- 
definitely  postponed. 

**  What    a   terrible    disappointment ! "   said    Tom. 

"  Yes,  it  seemed  so,  but  mark  the  issue.  The 
steamer  was  lost,  and  all  on  board  were  drowned. 
The   disappointment   saved   his   life." 

"  It  might  not  always  turn  out  so,"  objected 
Tom. 

"  No,  that  is  true.  Still,  if  we  are  willing  to 
think  that  our  disappointments  are  not  always 
misfortunes,  we  shall  go  through  life  with  more 
cheerfulness   and   content." 

"Still,  I  hope  I  shall  not  be  disappointed  in 
this,"   said  Tom. 

"  You  are  perhaps  too  young  to  be  philosoph- 
ical,"  said   his  father. 

Mark  Nelson  had  enjoyed  only  the  usual 
advantages  of  education  afforded  by  a  common 
school ;  but  he  was  a  man  of  good  natural 
capacity,  and  more  thoughtful  than  many  in  his 
vocation.  From  him  Tom  inherited  good  natural 
abilities  and  industrious  habits.  It  would  not  be 
4 


50  the  touno  adventurer;  or, 

fair,  however,  to  give  all  the  credit  to  his  father. 
Mrs.  Nelson  was  a  superior  woman,  and  all  hei 
children   were   well   endowed   by   nature. 

As  they  turned  into  Squire  Hudson's  gravel- 
path,  the  squire   himself  opened   the   front   door. 

"Were  you   coming  to   see   me?"   he   asked. 

"We  would  like  to  speak  with  you  a  few 
minutes,   squire,   if   you   can   spare   the   time." 

"  Oh,  yes,  I  have  nothing  pressing  on  hand," 
said  the  squire,  with  unusual  affability.  "  "Walk 
in,   Mr.   Nelson." 

He  led  the  way  into  the  room  where  Tom  had 
had   his   interview   with   him  the   day  before. 

"Your  son  did  me  a  good  turn  yesterday,"  he 
said  graciously.  "He  behaved  in  a  very  credit- 
able  manner." 

"  He  told  me  that  he  found  your  pocket-book, 
Squire  Hudson." 

"  Yes ;  it  contained  a  large  sum  of  money. 
Some  boys  would  have  kept  it." 

"None  of  my  boys  would,"  said  Mark  Nelson, 
proudly. 

"  Of  coarse  not     They're  too  well  brought  up." 


TOj/S    TRIP  ACROSS    THE   PLAINS.  51 

"Tom  told  me  that  you  offered  to  advance 
mouey  enough  to  get  him  to  California,"  said 
Mr.  Nelson,    coming  to  business. 

"  On  satisfactory  security,"  added  the  squire, 
cautiously. 

' '  You  proposed  to  increase  the  mortgage  on 
my  place?" 

"Yes,"  said  the  squire.  "I  wouldn't  have 
done  it,  though,  neighbor  Nelson,  but  for  the 
good  turn  the  boy  did  me.  I  am  not  at  all 
particular  about  increasing  the  amount  of  the 
mortgage,  but,  if  by  so  doing  it  I  can  promote 
Tom's   views,    I   won't  object." 

"  Thank  you,    sir,"   said   Tom,    gratefully. 

"  It  is  a  serious  step  for  me  to  take,"  continued 
Mr.  Nelson,  "  for  I  feel  the  incumbrance  to  be  a 
heavy  one  already.  In  fact,  it  is  with  difficulty 
that  I  pay  the  interest.  But  the  time  has  come 
when  Tom  should  start  in  life,  and  in  this  village 
there   seems  to  be   no  opening." 

"  None  whatever,"  said  the  squire,  in  a  tone 
of  decision. 

"What  do  you  think  of  the   prospects   in   Cali- 


52  TBB    YOUNG   ADVENTURER;    OR, 

fornia?"  asked  Mark  Nelsoa.  "You  are  a  man 
of  business,  and  can  judge  better  than  I.  Are 
the  stories  we  hear  of  fortunes  made  in  a  short 
time   to   be   relied   upon?" 

"  As  to  that,"  said  the  squire,  deliberately,  "  1 
suppose  we  can't  believe  all  we  hear ;  we  must 
make  some  allowances.  But,  after  all,  there's  no 
doubt  of  the  existence  of  gold  in  large  quantities ; 
I   am   satisfied   of  that." 

"  Then  about  the  wisdom  of  sending  out  a  boy 
like  Tom,   alone;   do  you   think   it  best?" 

"  It  depends  altogether  on  the  boy,"  responded 
the  squire.  "If  he  is  honest,  industrious,  and 
energetic,  he  will  make  his  way.  Tou  know  your 
own   boy   better    than   1  do." 

"  He  is  all  you  say,  Squire  Hudson.  I  have 
a  great   deal   of  confidence   in   Tom." 

Tom  looked  at  his  father  gratefully.  Sometimes 
it  does  a  boy  good  to  learn  that  the  older  people 
have   confidence   in   him. 

"  Then  let  him  go,"  said  the  squire.  "  I  stand 
ready  to  furnish  the  money.  I  think  you  said 
you   needed    two   hundred    dollars." 


TOM'S    TRIP   ACROSS    THE    PLAINS.  53 

This  question  was  put  to  Tom,  and  the  boy 
answered    in    the    affirmative. 

"  Very  well,"  said  the  squire.  "  As  soon  as 
the  necessary  writings  are  made  out,  the  money 
shall    be  ready." 

"It's    all    settled!"   thought  Tom,    triumphantly. 

At  that  moment  Sinclair  Hudson,  the  squire's 
only  son,  opened  the  door  and  looked  into  the 
room. 

"  Holloa,  Tom  Nelson,"  said  he,  rather  rudely. 
"What   brings  you  here?" 


64  THE    YOUNQ   ADVENTURER;    OR, 


CHAPTER    VI. 

TOM   ARRIVES   IN   PITTSBURG. 

"  I  came  on  business,  Sinclair,"  answered  Tom, 
smiling. 

"Thomas  is  going  to  California,  Sinclair,"  ex- 
plained Squire  Hudson. 

Sinclair  opened  wide  his  eyes  in  amazement. 
"What  for?"   he   asked. 

"  To  dig  gold  and  make  my  fortune,"  answered 
Tom,    complacently. 

' '  Come  out  and  tell  me   all   about  it." 

"  You  can  go,  Thomas,"  said  Squire  Hudson, 
graciously.  "Your  father  and  I  will  settle  the 
business." 

"Is  it  true  that  you  are  going  to  California?" 
asked  Sinclair,  when  they  were  out  in  the  front 
yard. 

"  Yes." 

"How  soon  do  you   go?" 


Tom's  trip  across  the  plains.  55 

"I    want  to   get   away  in   a   week." 

"What  has  my  father  to  do  with  it?"  inquired 
Sinclair. 

"He  is  going  to  lend  me  the  money  to  get 
there." 

"How  much?" 

"  Two  hundred   dollars." 

"Then  he  is  a  greater  fool  than  I  thought," 
said   Sinclair,    with   characteristic  politeness. 

"Why  do  you  say  that?"  demanded  our  hero, 
justly   nettled. 

"  Because   he'll  never   see   the   money   again." 

"  Yes,  he  will.  My  father  is  responsible  for 
it." 

"  Your   father   is   a   poor   man." 

"He  is  able  to  pay  that,  if  I  don't;  but  I 
hope  he   won't  have   to." 

"Do  you  really  expect  to  find  gold?"  asked 
Sinclair,    curiously. 

"  Certainly  I  do.  Others  have,  and  why  shouldn't 
I?     I   am   willing  to  work    hard." 

"Do  you   think  you'll   come   home   rich?" 

"  I   hope  so." 


56  the  young  adventurer;  or, 

"  I  have  a  great  mind  to  ask  father  to  let  me 
go   with   you,"   said    Sinclair,   unexpectedly. 

"  You  wouldn't  like  it.  You  haven't  been 
brought  up  to  work,"  said  Tom,  rather  startled, 
and  not  much  pleased  with  the  proposal,  for 
Sinclair  Hudson  was  about  the  last  boy  he  wished 
as   a   companion. 

"  Oh,  I  wouldn't  go  to  work.  I  would  go  as  a 
gentleman,  to  see  the  country.  Wait  a  minute ; 
I   will   run   in   and   ask   him." 

So  Sinclair  ran  into  the  house,  and  preferred 
his  request. 

"That's  a  wild  idea,  Sinclair,"  said  his  father, 
quickly. 

"  Why   is  it?    I'm   as  old   as  Tom   Nelson." 

"He  is  going  because  it  is  necessary  for  him 
to   earn   his   living." 

"  He  will  have  a  splendid  time,"  grumbled  the 
spoiled   son. 

"  You  shall  travel  all  you  want  to  when  you 
are  older,"  said  his  father.  "Now  you  must  get 
an   education." 

"  I   want  to   travel   novr." 


i'OM'S    TRIP    ACROSS    THR    PLAUfS.  57 

"I  will  take  you  to  New  York  the  next  time 
I    go." 

44  Give   me   five   dollars    besides." 

The   money    was    handed    him.  » 

He  went  out  and  reported  to  Tom  that  he 
was  going  to  travel  all  over  the  world  when  he 
was  a  little  older,  and  had  decided  not  to  go  to 
California    now. 

"  If  you  have  money  enough  you  can  go  with 
me,"    he    added,    graciously. 

41  Thank  you."  said  Tom,  politely,  though  the 
prospect  of  having  .Sinclair  for  a  travelling  com- 
panion  did    not   exhilarate    him    much. 

For  a  few  days  Mrs.  Nelson  was  very  busy 
getting  Tom  ready  to  go.  It  was  well,  perhaps, 
that  so  much  needed  to  be  done,  for  it  kept  her 
mind    from  the   thought    of  the   separation. 

The  question  of  which  route  to  take,  whether 
by  steamer  or  across  the  plains,  demanded  con- 
sideration. It  was  finally  decided  that  Tom  should 
go  over  land.  It  was  thought  that  he  might  join 
some  company  at  St.  Joseph, — or  St.  Joe.  as  it 
was   then,   and    is   now.    popularly    called and   pay 


58  THE    YOUNG   ADVENTURER ;    OR, 

his  passage  in  services,  thus  saving  a  good  share 
of  the  two  hundred  dollars.  That  was,  of  course, 
an  important   consideration. 

"How  shall  I  carry  my  money?"  asked  Tom. 

"It  will  be  best  to  take  gold,  and  carry  it 
for  safety  in  a  belt  around  your  waist,"  said  his 
father.  "  You  must  be  very  prudent  and  careful, 
or  you  may  be  robbed.  That  would  be  a  serious 
thing  for  you,  as  I  could  not  forward  you  any 
more  money." 

"  I  will  be  very  prudent,  father,"  said  Tom. 
"  I  know  the  value  of  money  too  well  to  risk 
losing   it." 

.  "Well,  the  days  of  preparation  were  over  at 
length,  and  Tom  stood  on  the  threshold,  bidding 
good-by  to  his  parents  and  his  brothers  and 
sisters.  He  had  not  realized  till  now  what  it  was 
to  leave  home  on  a  long  journey  of  indefinite 
duration.  He  wanted  to  be  heroic,  but  in  spite 
of  himself  his  eyes  moistened,  and  he  came  near 
breaking   down. 

"I  don't  know  how  to  part  with  you,  my  dear 
child,"   said   his  mother. 


TOJ^S   TRIP  ACROSS    THB   PLAINS,  59 

"Think  that  it  is  all  for  the  best,  mother," 
wid  Tom,  choking.  "Think  of  the  time  when  I 
will   come   back   with  plenty  of  money." 

"God  bless  you,  Tom!"  said  his  father 
44  Don't  forget  your  good  habits  and  principles 
when  you   are   far   away   from   us." 

"  I   won't,   father." 

So  Tom's  long  journey  commenced. 

Tom's  plan  was  to  go  to  St.  Louis  first.  His 
father  made  some  inquiries  about  the  route,  and 
recommended  going  to  Pittsburg  by  cars,  then  to 
take  the  boat  on  the  Ohio  river  to  Cincinnati. 
This  seemed  to  Tom  to  afford  a  pleasant  variety, 
and   he   gladty   accepted   the   suggestion. 

As  they  were  approaching  Pittsburg  Tom  occupied 
a  whole  seat  on  the  left-hand  side  of  the  car.  A 
brisk,  plausible  young  man,  of  twenty-five,  passing 
through  the  aisle,  observed  the  vacant  seat,  and, 
pausing,   inquired,   "Is   this   seat   engaged?" 

"No,  sir,"  answered  Tom. 

"  Then,  if  you  have  no  objection,  I  will  occupy  it.' 

"Certainly,  sir." 

The    young    man    was    nicely    dressed.      In    his 


60  the  young  aj>venturer;  or, 

bosom  sparkled    a  diamond   pin.   and   he  wore  three 
or  four  rings  on  his  fingers 

»'  He    must   be  rich,"    thought   Tom,   who  was  of 
an  observant   turn. 

"  A  pleasant  day  to  travel."  remarked  the  young 
man,   affably. 

"  Yes,  it  is,"  said  Tom. 

"  Do  you  go  farther  than  Pittsburg?" 

"Yes,  I  am  going  to  California."  answered  Tom, 
proudly. 

"  Is  it  possible?     Are  you  alone?" 

"Yes,  sir." 

"  You  are  young  to  travel  so  far." 

"  I  am  sixteen  ;  that  is,  I  shall  be  in  two  or  three 
weeks." 

"  Still,  you  are  young  to  take  such  a  journey 
alone.     Are   you   to  join    friends   there?" 

"No;   I    am  going   to   seek    my    fortune." 

Once  more  the  young  man  looked  surprised,  and 
scanned    Tom   curiously. 

"  1  presume  you  are  from  the  city,"  he  observed, 
with  a  smile  which  Tom  would  uot  have  under- 
stood    if     he    had     noticed     w        The   truth    is.    that 


TOATS    TRIP    A' a^SS    THh.    PLAINS.  61 

Tom  bore  evident  marks  of  being  a  country  boy. 
I  don't  like  to  say  that  he  looked  "green."  but 
he  certainly  lacked  the  air  that  distinguishes  a 
town-bred  boy.  His  companion  evidently  undei- 
stood  boy  nature,  fov  Tom  was  much  flattered  by 
the  supposition  that  he  was  a  city  boy. 

"  No,"  he  answered,  almost  as  if  apologizing 
for  a  discreditable  fact ;  '*  I  am  from  the  country." 

"  You  don't  say  so ! "  exclaimed  the  other,  in 
appa.-ent  surprise.  ki  I  thought,  from  your  appear- 
ance, that  you  were  from  thw  "'ty.  How  do  you 
go  from  Pittsburg?" 

"  By    river    to   Cincinnati." 

"Do  you  realty?  I  am  glad  to  hear  it;  I  am 
going  there  myself.  We  shall  be  fellow-passengers. 
That  will  be  pleasant." 

Tom  thought  it  would.  His  companion  seemed 
very  pleasant  and  social,  and  he  had  been  feeling 
lonely,  as  was  only  natural. 

4i  Yes,  it  will,"  he  said. 

44  By  the  way,  as  we  may  be  thrown  together, 
more  or  less,  we  ought  to  know  each  other.  My 
name    is    Milton    Graham.      My    father    is    a    rich 


62  the  rouxa  adventurer;  or, 

merchant  in  New  York.  I  am  travelling  partly 
on  business  for  my  father's  firm,  and  partly  for 
pleasure." 

"  My  name  is  Thomas  Nelson ;  most  people  call 
me   Tom,"    said   our   hero. 

"Then  I  will  call  you  Tom,"  said  Graham. 
"  I  like  the  name.  I  have  a  favorite  cousin  named 
Tom.  Poor  boy !  —  he  is  an  orphan.  His  father 
died  two  years  ago,  leaving  him  two  hundred 
thousand  dollars.  My  father  is  his  guardian.  He 
is  about  your  age  ;  only  not  quite  so  good-looking." 

Tom  blushed.  He  had  not  thought  much  of  his 
own  looks,  but  he  was  human,  and  no  one  is 
displeased  at  being  considered  good-looking.  Mr. 
Graham  spoke  meditatively,  as  if  he  was  not  in- 
tending to  pay  a  compliment,  only  mentioning  a 
fact,  and  Tom  did  not  feel  called  upon  to  thank 
him  for  this   flattering  remark. 

"That  is  a   great   deal  of  money,"   he  said. 

"  Yes,  it  is.  All  my  relations  are  rich ;  that 
is,  except  one  uncle,  who  probably  is  not  worth 
over  twenty  thousand  dollars." 

Tom    was    impressed.     A    man    who   could    talk 


TOM'S    TRIP  ACROSS    THE    PLAINS.  6b 

of   such  a    sum  in  such  terms  must  certainly  be 
very  rich. 

4 ;  Do  you  know,  Mr.  Graham,"  he  inquired, 
"  how  soon  the  steamer  will  start  after  we  reach 
Pittsburg?" 

"  No ;  but  I  can  find  out  after  we  reach  there." 

On  arriving  at  Pittsburg  inquiry  was  made, 
and  it  was  ascertained  that  the  steamer  "  Kiver 
Belle"  would  leave  at  nine  o'clock  the  following 
morning. 

"  We  shall  have  to  go  to  a  hotel,"  said  Graham. 

"Is  there  any  cheap  hotel  here?"  asked  Tom, 
prudently. 

**  Yes ;  there  is  the  Pittsburg  House.  Suppose 
we  both  go  there." 

"All  right." 

Mr.  Graham  had  only  a  small  carpet-bag,  smaller 
than  Tom's.  They  took  them  in  their  hands,  and 
walked  for  a  short  distance,  till  they  reached  a 
plain  building,  which,  from  the  sign,  Tom  discov- 
ered to  be  the  hotel  which  had  been  mentioned. 

"Shall  we  room  together?  It  will  cost  less," 
said  Milton  Graham,   carelessly. 


64  TBE   youno  adventurer;  or, 

"  If  you    please,"    said   Tom. 

He  was  lonely  and  thought  he  would  like  com- 
pany. Besides,  it  would  be  cheaper,  and  that  was 
&   weighty   consideration. 


TOM' 8    TRIP   ACROSS    TBB    PLAINS.  35 


CHAPTER  VII. 


THE    PITTSBURG   HOUSE. 


Tom  and  his  companion  entered  the  hotel.  At 
the  left  was  the  clerk's  desk.  Milton  Graham 
naturallv  took  the  lead.  He  took  a  pen  from 
the  clerk,  and  entered  his  name  with  a  flourish. 
Then  he  handed  the  pen  to  Tom,  who  followed 
his   example,   omitting   the  flourish,    however. 

' '  This  young  gentleman  will  room  with  me," 
said   Graham. 

"  All  right,  sir,"  said  the  clerk.  "  Will  yon 
go  up   to  your  room  now?" 

"  Yes." 

The  porter  was  summoned,  and  handed  the 
key  of  No.  16.  He  took  the  two  carpet-bags, 
and  led  the  way  upstairs,  for  the  Pittsburg 
House  had  no  elevator.  Even  in  the  best  hotels 
at  that  time  this  modern  convenience  was  not 
to  be  found. 
5 


68  THE    YOUNQ   ADVENTURER;    OR, 

The  door  of  No.  16  was  opened,  revealing  a 
plain  room,  about  twelve  feet  square,  provided, 
as  Tom   was  glad  to  see,  with  two  narrow  beds. 

"Have  you  got  a  quarter,  Tom?"  asked  Gra- 
ham. 

Tom  drew  one  from  his   pocket. 

Graham  took  it  and  handed  it  to  the  porter, 
who   expressed  his   thanks. 

"  It's  always  customary  to  fee  the  porter, "  He 
said,  carelessly,  in  answer  to  Tom's  look  of 
surprise . 

"What  for?" 

"For  bringing  up   the   baggage." 

"  Twenty-five  cents  for  bringing  up  two  small 
carpet-bags !  That's  pretty  high.  I'd  have  brought 
them  up  myself,  if  I  had  known,"  said  Tom, 
dissatisfied,  for  he  felt  that  this  fee  was  hardly 
in    accordance    with    his    resolutions    of    economy. 

"  Oh,  he  expects  it.  It's  his  regular  perquisite 
When  you've  travelled  more  you'll  understand." 

"  How  much  are  we  to  pay  for  our  accommo- 
dations?"  asked  Tom,   anxiously. 

"  About  two  dollars   apiece,  I  reckon." 


TOlfs   TRIP  ACROSS    THE   PLJ.IN8.  67 

"That's  more  than  I  can  afford,"  said  Tom, 
alarmed. 

"  Perhaps  it  is  less,  as  we  room  together." 

"  I  hope  so,  for  I  can't  afford  to  be  extrava* 
gant." 

"Do  you  call  two  dollars  a  day  extravagant?" 
asked  Graham,  smiling. 

"It  is   for  me.     My   father  is   poor." 

"Oh,  it'll  be  all  right.  I'll  fix  it  with  the 
clerk.  If  you  are  ready,  suppose  we  go  down 
and  have  some    supper." 

To  this  Tom  had  no  objection.  He  washed 
his  hands  and  face,  and  brushed  his  hair;  then 
he  declared  himself  ready. 

Tom  was  hungry,  and  did  justice  to  the  sup- 
per, which  he  found  very  good.  As  they  left 
the  table,  and  reentered  the  office  of  the  hotel, 
Milton  Graham  said,  "I  am  going  to  make  a 
call  on  some  friends.  Sorry  to  leave  you,  but 
we  shall  meet  later  in  the  evening." 
"All  right,"   said  Tom. 

On  the  whole  he  did  not  regret  being  alone. 
He  began  to  doubt  whether  Graham  would  make 


68  the  touno  adventurer;  or, 

a  desirable  travelling  companion.  Tom  felt  the 
need  of  economy,  and  be  saw  that  his  companion 
would  make  it  difficult.  If  a  fee  must  be  paid, 
it  was  fair  to  divide  it ;  but  the  porter's  fee  had 
come   out  of  Tom's   pocket. 

'*  Didn't  he  have  a  quarter,  I  wonder?" 
thought   our   hero. 

It  was  a  small  matter,  but  economy  must  be- 
gin in  small  matters,  or  it  is  not  likely  to  be 
practised    at   all. 

He  took  the  opportunity  to  go  to  the  desk 
and  ascertain  the  sum  likely  to  be  charged  for 
bis   accommodations. 

"How  long  do  you  stay?"  asked  the  clerk, 
pleasantly. 

"  Till  to-morrow  morning.  I  am  going  to  sail 
in  the  4  River   Belle."' 

"  Then  we  shall  charge  you  a  dollar  and  a 
half." 

This  seemed  large  to  Tom,  but  he  made  no 
objection. 

44  How  much  would  it  have  been,  if  I  had 
roomed    alone?"    he   asked. 


TOitS    TRIP   ACROSS    THE   PLAINS.  69 

"The  same.  We  make  no  change  in  otur 
terms   on    that   account." 

"  Mr.  Graham  told  me  it  would  be  cheaper 
to  room    together." 

"  He   is   your   room-mate,    isn't   he?" 

"Yes,    sir." 

"  He  is  mistaken,  so  far  as  our  house  is  con- 
cerned. I  suppose  j'ou  have  known  him  for 
gome   time." 

"  No,  sir.  I  met  him  on  the  cars  yesterday 
afternoon  for  the  first  time." 

"Then  you  don't  know  anything  about  him?" 

"  Oh,  yes,"  answered  Tom.  "  He  is  the  son  of  a 
rich  merchant  in  New  York." 

"  Who  told  you  that?" 

"  He  did." 

The  clerk  was  a  man  of  middle  age.  At  home  he 
had  a  son  of  Tom's  age,  and  this  led  him  to  feel  a 
friendly  interest  in  our  hero. 

"  I  suppose  you  have  never  travelled  much,"  h« 
■aid. 

"  No,  sir.     This  is  my  first  journey." 

**  Are  you  going  far  ?  " 


70  THE    YOUNQ   ADVENTURER;    OR, 

". To  California." 

"  That  is  a  long  journey  for  a  boy  of  your  age," 
said  the  clerk,  looking  surprised. 

"  Yes,  sir ;  but  I  can't  get  anything  to  do  at  home, 
and  I  am  going  to  California  to  seek  my  fortune." 

"I  hope  you  will  be  successful,"  said  the  clerk, 
with  hearty  sympathy.  "Will  you  let  me  give  you 
a  piece  of  advice?" 

"  I  shall  be  very  glad  of  it,  sir,"  responded  Tom. 
"  I  find  I  am  quite  inexperienced." 

"  Then  don't  trust  strangers  too  readily.  It  is 
dangerous." 

"Do  you  refer  to  Mr.  Graham?"  asked  Tom, 
startled. 

"Yes,  I  refer  to  him,  or  any  other  chance  ac- 
quaintance." 

"  Don't  you  think  he  is  all  right?  "  asked  our  hero, 
anxiously. 

"  I  don't  think  he  is  the  son  of  a  rich  merchant  in 
New  York." 

"  Then  why  should  he  tell  me  so?" 

Tom  was  green,  and  I  have  no  intention  of  con- 
cealing it. 


TOjfs    TRIP  ACROSS    THE   PLAINS.  71 

"  I  can't  tell  what  his  designs  may  be.  Did  you 
tell  him  that  you  were  going  to  California?" 

"Yes,  sir." 

"  Then  he  will,  of  course,  conclude  that  you  have 
money.    Did  you  tell  him  where  you  keep  it?" 

"No,  sir.     I  keep  it  in  a  belt  around  my  waist." 

"  You  are  too  ready  to  tell  that,  though  with  me 
the  information  is  safe.  You  are  to  room  together. 
What  will  be  easier  then  for  your  companion  to  rob 
you  during  the  night?" 

"  I'd  better  take  a  room  alone,"  said  Tom,  now 
thoroughly  alarmed. 

"  I  should  advise  you  to,  in  most  cases,  but  at 
present  it  may  be  as  well  to  let  things  remain  as 
they  are,  as  it  will  save  an  awkward  explanation." 

"  But  I  don't  want  to  be  robbed." 

"We  have  a  safe  in  the  office, — there  it  is,  —  in 
which  we  deposit  articles  of  value  intrusted  to  us 
by  our  guests.  Then  we  become  responsible  for 
them.  I  advise  you  to  leave  your  money  with  ua 
over  night." 

"  I  will,"  said  Tom,  relieved.  "  I  shall  have  to  go 
to  my  room  to  remove  it." 


72  tub  young  adventurer;  or. 

"Very  well.  If  you  have  a  watch,  or  any  other 
valuable,  it  will  be  well  to  put  those  in  our  charge 
also." 

44  No,  sir,  I  have  nothing  of  consequence  but  the 
money." 

The  belt  of  money  was  deposited  in  the  safe,  and 
Tom  felt  relieved.  He  began  to  realize  for  the 
first  time  the  need  of  prudence  and  caution.  It  had 
never  occurred  to  him  that  a  nice,  gentlemanly- 
looking  man,  like  Milton  Graham,  was  likely  to 
rob  him  of  his  scanty  means.  Even  now  he  thought 
there  must  be  some  mistake.  Still  he  felt  that  he 
had  done  the  right  thing  in  depositing  the  money 
with  the  clerk.  The  mere  thought  of  losing  it,  and 
finding  himself  high  and  dry,  —  stranded,  so  to 
speak,  —  hundreds  of  miles  from  home,  made  him 
shudder.  On  the  whole,  Tom  had  learned  a  valuable, 
though  an  unpleasant,  lesson.  The  young  are  by 
nature  trustful.  They  are  disposed  to  put  confi- 
dence in  those  whom  they  meet,  even  for  the  first 
time.  Unhappily,  in  a  world  where  there  is  so  much 
of  evil  as  there  is  in  ours,  such  confidence  is 
not  justified.     There   are  too  many  who  make   it   a 


TOM'S    TRIP   ACROSS    THE    PLAINS.  73 

business   to    prey  on   their  fellows,    and    select    in 
preference  the  young  and  inexperienced. 

It  was  only  seven  o'clock.  Tom  had  a  curiosity 
to  see  the  city  of  Pittsburg,  with  whose  name  he 
had  been  familiar.  So,  after  parting  with  his 
treasure,  he  went  out  for  a  walk.  He  did  not 
much  care  where  he  went,  since  all  was  alike  new 
to  him.  He  ascertained,  on  inquiry,  that  Smithfield 
street  was  the  principal  business  thoroughfare.  He 
inquired  his  way  thither,  and  walked  slowly  through 
it,  his  attention  fully  occupied  by  what  he  saw. 


74  THS    TOVNO   ADVENTURER ;    OR, 


CHAPTER    Vni. 

GRAHAM   SHOWS    HIMSELF   IN   HIS    TRUB   COLORS. 

Tom  strayed  into  a  street  leading  from  the  main 
thoroughfare.  Presently  he  came  to  a  brilliantly 
lighted  liquor  saloon.  As  he  paused  in  front  of 
the  door,  a  heavy  hand  was  laid  upon  his  shoulder, 
and,  looking  up,  he  met  the  glance  of  a  well-dressed 
gentleman,  rather  portly,  whose  flushed  face  and 
uncertain  gait  indicated  his  condition.  He  leaned 
rather  heavily  upon  Tom,  apparently  for  support, 
for  he  seemed  to  have  been  drinking  more  than 
was  good  for  him. 

"My  young  friend,"  he  said,  "come  in,  and  take 
a  drink." 

"Thank  you,  sir,  but  I  would  rather  not,"  said 
Tom,  startled. 

"  It   won't   hurt  you.     It   don't  hurt   me." 

As  he  uttered  these  last  words  he  came  near 
falling.     In  his   effort  to  save  himself  he   clutched 


Tom's  trip  across  the  plains.  75 

Tom  by  the  arm,  and  nearly  pulled  him  over. 
Our   hero   was  anxious   to   get   away. 

"Are  you  sure  it  don't  hurt  you?"  he  could 
not  help   saying. 

"Do  you  think  I'm  drunk?"  demanded  the 
other. 

"  I  think  you've  taken  more  then  is  good  for 
you,  sir,"  Tom  answered,  bravely. 

"  I  guess  you're  right,"  muttered  the  gentleman, 
trying  to  stand  upright.  "The  drink's  gone  to 
my  legs.  That's  strange.  Does  it  ever  go  to 
your  legs  ?  " 

"  I   never  drink,   sir." 

"  You're  a  most  extraor'nary  young  man," 
hiccoughed   Tom's   new   acquaintance. 

"  I  must  bid  you  good-night,  sir,"  said  our 
hero,    anxious   to   get   away. 

"Don't  go.     I  can't  get    home   alone." 

"Where  do    you  live,   sir?" 

"  I  live  in   the   country." 

"  Are  you  staying   at  a  hotel  ? " 

"  Yes,  —  Pittsburg  House.  Know  Pittsburg 
House?" 


76  THE    TOUNO   ADVENTURER ;    OR, 

*'  Yes,  sir.  I  am  staying  there  myself.  Shall 
I  lead  you  there?  You'd  better  not  dnnk  any 
more." 

"  Jus'  3rou  say,  my  young  frien'.  You  kno^f 
best." 

It  was  not  a  pleasant,  or,  indeed,  an  easy  task 
to  lead  home  the  inebriate,  for  he  leaned  heavily 
on  Tom,  and,  being  a  large  man,  it  was  as  much 
as  our  hero  could  do  to  get  him  along.  As 
they  were  walking  along  Tom  caught  sight  of 
his  room-mate,  Milton  Graham,  just  turning  into 
a  saloon,  in  company  with  two  other  }roung  men. 
They  were  laughing  loudl}7,  and  seemed  in  high 
spirits.     Graham   did   not   recognize   Tom. 

"  I  hope  he  won't  come  home  drunk,"  thought 
our  hero.  "  It  seems  to  me  it  is  fashionable  to 
drink   here." 

Tom's  experience  of  city  life  was  very  limited. 
It  was  not  long  before  he  learned  that  Pitts- 
burg was  by  no  means  exceptional  in  this  re- 
spect. 

He  ushered  his  companion  safely  into  the  hotel, 
and   then   a   servant   took   charge   of  him,    and  led 


TOifs    TRIP  ACROSS    THE   PLAINS. 

him  to  his  room.  Tom  sat  up  a  little  while 
longer,  reading  a  paper  he  found  in  the  office, 
and   then   went   to   bed. 

"I  suppose  Mr.  Graham  will  come  home  late," 
he  said  to  himself.  "  I  must  leave  the  door 
unlocked." 

He  soon  went  to  sleep.  How  long  he  slept 
he  did  not  know,  but  suddenly  awoke  after  an 
interval.  Opening  his  eyes  he  became  conscious 
that  Graham  had  returned.  He  discovered  some- 
thing more.  His  room-mate,  partially  undressed, 
and  with  his  back  turned  to  Tom,  was  engaged 
in  searching  our  hero's  pockets.  This  discovery 
set  Tom  broad  awake  at  once.  He  was  not 
frightened,  but  rather  amused  when  he  thought 
of  Graham's  disappointment.  He  did  not  think 
it   best   to   speak,   but   counterfeited   sleep. 

"  I  wonder  where  the  boy  keeps  his  money," 
he  heard  Graham  mutter.  "  Perhaps  it  is  in  big 
coat-pocket.  No,  there  is  nothing  but  a  hand- 
kerchief. He's  more  careful  than  I  gave  him 
credit   for.     Perhaps   it  is   under   his   pillow." 

He   laid   down   the   clothes,   and   approached   the 


78  THE    70 UNO   ADVENTURER ;    OR, 

bed.  Tom,  with  some  effort,  kept  his  eyes  firmly 
closed. 

Graham  slid  his  hand  lightly  under  the  pillow, 
but  withdrew  it  with  an  exclamation  of  dis- 
appointment. 

"He  must  have  some  money,"  be  muttered. 
"  Ah,  I   have   it !     It  is   in  his   valise." 

He  approached  Tom's  valise,  but  it  was  locked. 
He  drew  out  a  bunch  of  keys,  and  tried  one 
after  the  other,  but  in  vain.  Our  hero  feared  he 
might  resort  to  violent  means  of  opening  it,  and 
turned   in  bed.     Graham  wheeled  round   quickly. 

Tom   stretched,   and  opened  his    eyes   languidly. 

"Is   that  you,   Mr.    Graham?"   he   asked. 

"Yes,"  answered  Graham,  nonchalantly,  pro- 
ceeding to  undress  himself.  "  Have  you  been 
abed    long  ?  " 

"  I  don't  know,"  answered  Tom.  "  What  time 
is  it?" 

"Haven't  you  got    a  watch?" 

"No,   I   am   not  rich  enough." 

"  It  is  one  o'clock.  I  hadn't  seen  my  friend 
for    a   long   time,    and  couldn't   get   away  till   late. 


TOlrfs    TRIP  ACROSS    THE   PLAINS.  79 

By  the  way,  have  you  got  a  key  about  you? 
I  can't  open   my   carpet-bag." 

Tom  thought  of  suggesting  the  bunch  of  keys 
in  Graham's  pocket,   but  decided  not  to. 

"  My  key   is   in  my  pants  pocket." 

"Suppose  you  get  it,"  said  Graham.  "I  don't 
like  to  feel  in  another  person's  pocket.  There 
might  be   some  money  there." 

This  was  very  scrupulous  for  one  who  had 
already   searched   all   Tom's   pockets   thoroughly. 

Our  hero  got  up,  and  got  the  key  for  his 
room-mate. 

"  No,  it  won't  fit,"  said  the  young  man,  after 
a  brief  trial.     "It  is   too  large." 

Tom  replaced  the  key  in  his  pocket,  confident 
that  Graham  would  in  the  course  of  the  night 
use  it  to  open  his  valise.  This,  however,  did 
not   trouble   him. 

"He  won't  think  it  worth  while  to  steal  my 
ihirts  or  stockings,"  he  reflected,  "  and  the  hand- 
kerchiefs are  not  worth  taking." 

"It  will  be  rather  awkward  if  I  can't  find  my 


80  THE   young  adventures;  OS, 

keys,"  said  Graham,  craftily.  44  I  keep  my  money 
in   my   valise." 

He  thought  his  unsophisticated  companion  would 
reveal  in  turn  where  he  kept  his  mone}T ;  but  Tom 
only  said,  "  That  is  a  good  place,"  and,  turning 
over,    closed   his   eyes   again. 

During  the  night  Tom's  valise  was  opened,  as 
he  ascertained  in  a  simple  way.  In  the  morning 
he  found  that  the  key  was  in  the  right-hand  pocket 
instead  of  the   left,   in   which   he   had   placed   it. 

Upon  Graham's  last  failure  he  began  to  sus- 
pect  what  Tom   had   done   with   his   money. 

"  The  boy  isn't  so  geeen  as  I  thought,"  he  said 
to  himself.  "  Curse  his  prudence !  I  must  get  the 
money   somehow,    for  I   am   precious   hard   up." 

He  got  up  early,  when  Tom  was  yet  asleep, 
and   went  down   to   the   office. 

"Good-morning,"  he  said  to  the  clerk,  affably. 

44  Good- morning,  sir." 

44  My  young  friend  and  room-mate  left  his  monej 
with  you   last   night.     Please   deliver  it  to   me." 

44 What  is  the  number  of  your  room?"  asked 
the  clerk,   quietly. 


Tom's  trip  across  thk  plains.  81 

♦'No.    16.     Tom  Nelson   is  my   room-mate." 

"Why  doesn't  he  come  for  it  himself?"  inquired 
h*  hotel-clerk,  with  a  searching  glance  at  Graham. 

"  He  wishes  me  to  buy  his  steamboat  ticket," 
answered  Gidham,  coolly.  "  He  is  going  down  the 
river   ;u    my   charge." 

"Aic   you    his   guardian?" 

•'Yes,"  answered  Graham,  with  cool  effrontery. 
"  He  i3  the  son  of  an  acquaintance  of  mine,  and 
I   naturally    feel   an   interest   in   the   boy." 

"  He  told  me  he  never  met  you  till  yesterday." 

Graham  was  rather  taken  aback,  but  he  recov- 
ered   himself  quickly. 

"  That's  pretty  cool  in  Tom,"  he  returned,  shrug- 
ging  his   shoulders.     "  I    understand   it,    though." 

"  I  am  glad  you  do,"  said  the  clerk,  sarcasti- 
cally, "  for  it  doesn't  look  to  me  at  all  consistent 
with    what  you  represent." 

"  The  fact  is,"  said  Graham,  plausibly,  "  Tom 
has  a  feeling  of  independence,  and  doesn't  like  to 
have  it  supposed  that  he  is  under  anybody's  pro- 
tection. That  accounts  for  what  he  told  you.  It 
isn't   right,    though,    to    misrepresent.     I   must   give 


82  THE    YOUNO   ADVENTURER ;    OS, 

him  a  scolding.  I  am  in  a  little  of  a  hurry,  so 
If  you  will  kindly  give  me  the  boy's  money  —  " 

"  It  won't  do,  Mr.  Graham,"  said  the  clerk, 
very  firmly.  "The  money  was  put  in  our  charge 
by  the  boy,  and  it  will  be  delivered  only  to 
him." 

"You  seem  to  be  very  suspicious,"  said  Gra- 
ham, loftily.  "  Hand  me  my  bill,  if  you  please. 
I  will  breakfast  elsewhere." 

The  bill  was  made  out,  and  paid.  Five  minutes 
later,  Milton  Graham,  with  an  air  of  outraged  virtue, 
stalked  out  of  the  hotel,  quite  forgetting  the  young 
friend  who  was  under  his  charge. 

When  Tom  came  downstairs  he  was  told  of  the 
attempt  to  get  possession  of  his  money. 

"  I  am  much  obliged  to  you  for  not  letting 
him  have  it,"  he  said.  "  He  searched  my  clothes 
and  valise  during  the  night;  but  I  said  noth- 
ing, for  I  knew  he  would  find  nothing  worth  tak- 
ing." 

"  He  is  a  dangerous  companion.  If  you  ever 
meet  him  again,  I  advise  you  to  give  him  a  wide 
berth." 


TOMtS   TRIP  ACROSS    THE   PLAINS.  83 

"I  certainly  shall  follow  your  advice.  If  you 
had  not  warned  me  against  him  he  would  have 
stolen  my  money   during  the  night." 


84  THE    JOUNO    ADVENTURER ;    C«, 


CHAPTER  IX. 

THB    "RIVER   BELLE." 

As  Tom  took  his  place  at  the  breakfast-table 
he  mechanically  lifted  his  eyes  and  glanced  at  his 
neighbors.  Directly  opposite  him  sat  the  gentle- 
man whom  he  had  brought  home  the  evening  before. 
Uow  he  looked  sober  and  respectable.  Indeed  he 
looked  as  if  he  might  be  a  person  of  some  promi- 
nence.    He  met  Tom's  glance,  and  recognized  him. 

"  I  think  you  are  the  boy  who  came  home  with 
me,    last   evening,"   he   said. 

"  Yes,  sir,"  answered  Torn,  rather  embarrassed. 

"  I  am  afraid  I  was  not  quite  myself,"  con- 
tinued  the   stout  gentleman. 

"Not   quite,  sir." 

"  I  ought  to  be  ashamed  of  myself,  and  I  am. 
I  don't  often  allow  myself  to  be  caught  in  that 
way.     You   did   me   a   good   service." 

"  You   are   quite   welcome,    sir." 


TOM'S    TRIP   ACROSS    THR    PLAINS.  86 

44  I  had  a  good  deal  of  money  with  ine,  and, 
if  I  had  drank  any  more,  I  should  probably  have 
been    robbed." 

44  Why  did  you  run  such  a  risk,  sir?"  Tom 
could    not   help   asking. 

"  Because  I  was  a  fool,"  said  the  other,  bluntly. 
44 1  have  a  taste  for  drink,  but  when  I  am  at 
home  I  keep  it  under  control." 

44 Then   you   don't   live   in    Pittsburg,    sir?" 

44  No.  My  home  is  in  one  of  the  river  towns  La 
Ohio.  I  came  to  Pittsburg  to  collect  money  due 
me  for  produce,  and  but  for  you  should  probably 
have  carried   none  of  it   home." 

44 1  am  very  glad  to  be  of  service  to  you," 
said  our  hero,  sincerely. 

44  What  are  your  plans,  my  young  friend?  I 
suppose  you   are  only   a   visitor   in   this   city." 

44 1  am  on  my  way  to  California.  I  expect  to 
sail   in  the   4  River  Belle '   at  nine   o'clock." 

44  Then  we  shall  be  fellow-passengers,  and  I 
shall  have  a  chance  to  become  better  acquainted 
with  you.  You  are  young  to  go  to  California 
alone.     You   are  aloue.  —  art-    v<»ti    not?" 


86  TUB    YOUNQ   ADVENTURER;    OR, 

"Yes,  sir." 

They  went  down  to  the  boat  together,  and  on 
the  way  Tom  told  his  story.  He  learned  that 
his  acquaintance  was  Mr.  Nicholas  Waterbury ; 
that  he  had  been  a  member  of  the  Ohio  Legis- 
lature, and,  as  he  inferred,  was  a  prominent  citizen 
of  the   town   in   which   he   lived. 

"  I  should  be  very  much  ashamed  to  have 
them  hear  at  home  how  I  had  forgotten  myself," 
said   Mr.   "Waterbury. 

"  It  need  not  be  known,"  said  Tom.  "  I  shall 
not  mention   it  to   any   one." 

"Thank  you,"  said  Mr.  Waterbury.  "I  would 
rather  you  did  not,  as  the  news  might  reach 
my  home." 

"Where  do  you  live,   sir?" 

"  In  Marietta.  I  shall  be  glad  to  have  you 
leave  the  boat  there,  and  stay  a  day  or  two 
with    me." 

"  Thank  you,  sir,  but  I  am  in  a  hurry  to 
reach  California,  on  my  father's  account.  I  want 
to  send  back  as  soon  as  possible  the  money  he 
raised  to  pay  my  expenses  out." 


Tom's  trip  across  the  plains.  87 

"That  is  very  commendable;  I  can  enter  into 
your  feelings.  I  should  like  to  show  my  obliga- 
tion  to  you   in   some   way." 

"It  is  not  worth  thinking  about,  sir,"  said 
Tom,   modestly. 

"  Permit  me  to  disagree  with  you.  Why,  my 
young  friend,  how  much  money  do  you  think  I 
had   with  me?" 

"I  don't  know,  sir." 

"Upwards   of  six   hundred   dollars." 

As  Mr.  Waterbury  uttered  these  words,  a  young 
man,  very  dark,  with  narrow  black  whiskers, 
passed  them.  He  darted  a  quick  glance  at  the 
speaker,  and  walked  rapidly  on.  Tom  noticed 
him,   but   not  with   attention. 

"That  is  a  good  deal  of  money,  sir,"  he  re- 
marked. 

"  It  would  have  been  a  good  deal  to  lose," 
said  Mr.  Waterbury,  "  and  I  have  no  doubt  I 
should  have  lost  it,  if  it  had  not  been  for 
you." 

"I  haven't  so  much  money  as  you,  but  1  came 
near  losing   it  last   night." 


88  TRR     YttnSG    AnVKNTTJRRR;    OR. 

"  How    was    that?"     asked    Tom's    new    acquaint 
ance,  with  curiosity. 

Tom  explained  the  attempt  of  his  room-mat* 
to    rob    him. 

"  It  would  have  been  a  serious  loss  to  you, 
my   young   friend." 

"It  would  have  broken  up  all  my  plans,  and 
I  should  have  had  to  work  my  way  home,  greatly 
disappointed." 

"  You  will  need  to  be  careful  about  forming 
acquaintances.  There  are  exceptions,  however.  I 
am  a  new  acquaintance ;  but  I  don't  think  /OU 
need  fear   me." 

"  No,    sir,"   said  Tom,   smiling. 

"While  I  have  received  a  great  service  f»~)m 
you,  who  are  a  new  acquaintance.  But  here  we 
are    at  the   steamer." 

The  "River  Belle"  lay  at  her  pier.  Tom  and 
his  companion  went  on  board.  Both  secured 
tickets,  and  Tom  provided  himself  with  a  state- 
room, for  he  expected  to  remain  on  board  till 
they  reached  Cincinnati.  Freight  of  various  kinds 
was     being   busily   stowed  away    below.     It   was   a 


TOJfS    TRIP  ACROSS    THE   PLAINS.  89 

Dusy  and  animated  scene,  and  Tom  looked  on 
with   interest. 

"Have  you  ever  been  on  a  steamboat  before?" 
asked   Mr.    Waterbury. 

"  No,  sir.  I  have  never  travelled  any  to  speak 
of  before  leaving  home  on  this  journey,  replied 
Tom." 

"It  will  be  a  pleasant  variety  for  you,  then, 
though  the  scenery  is  tame.  However,  some  of 
the   river-towns   are   pretty." 

"I   am   sure   I   shall  like   it,  sir." 

"  I  wish  I  were  going  all  the  way  with  yon,— 
I  mean  as  far  as  Cincinnati,"  said  Mr.  Water- 
bury. 

"  I   wish  you   were,   sir." 

"I  have  a  great  mind  to  do  it,"  said  the 
gentleman,  musingly.  "  I  should  have  to  go  very 
soon  on  business,  at  any  rate,  and  I  can  attend 
to  it  now  just  as  well  as  later." 

"  I  shall  be  very  glad  if  you  can  make  it  con- 
venient, sir.  We  might  occupy  the  same  state- 
room." 

"Are  you   not    afraid    that    I    shall   follow   the 


90  THE    YOUNQ   ADVENTURER /    OS, 

example  of  your  Pittsburg  room-mate?"  asked 
Mr.    Waterbury,  smiling. 

"  I  have  less  to  lose  than  you,"  answered 
Tom.  "Besides,  I  shall  have  to  have  a  room- 
mate,   as   there  are   two  berths." 

"Precisely,  and  I  might  be  safer  than  some.  I 
have  a  great  mind  to  keep  on.  I  shall  see 
some  one  on  the  pier  in  Marietta  by  whom  I 
can  send  word  to  my  family.  By  the  way,  I 
have  a  son  about  your  age,  and  a  daughter 
two  years  younger." 

"Have  you,   sir?"    asked  Tom,    with   interest. 

"I  should  like  you  to  meet  them.  Perhaps 
you   may   some   day." 

"I  hope  I  may,"   said   Tom,   politely 

"I  am  a  manufacturer,"  continued  Mr.  Water- 
bury,  "  and  sell  my  goods  chiefly  in  Pittsburg 
and  Cincinnati.  From  these  places  they  are  for- 
warded  farther  east   and   west." 

"  I  suppose  that's  a  pretty  good  business,  sir." 

"  Sometimes ;  but  there  are  intervals  of  depres- 
sion. However,  I  have  no  right  to  complain.  I 
began  a  poor  boy,  and  now  I  am  moderately  rich." 


Tom's  trip  across  the  plains.  91 

"Were  you  as  poor  as  I  am?"  inquired  Tom, 
beginning  to  feel  a  personal  interest  in  his  a>m- 
panion's   career. 

u  Quite  so,  I  fancy.  At  the  age  of  sixteen  I 
couldn't  call   myself  the   owner  of  five   dollars. 

"And  you" have  become  rich?"  said  Tom,  feel- 
ing  very   much   encouraged. 

"  Moderately  so.  I  am  probably  worth  fifty 
thousand  dollars,  and  am  just  fifty  years  of 
age." 

"That  seems   to  me   very  rich,"   said   Tom. 

"  I  should  have  said  the  same  thing  at  your 
age.  Our  views  change  as  we  get  older.  Still,  I 
regard  myself  as  very  well  off,  and,  with  prudent 
management,  I  need  not  fear  reverses." 

"  I  should   think   not,"   said   Tom. 

"You  don't  know  how  easy  it  is  to  lose  money, 
my  boy.  I  am  not  referring  to  robbery,  but  to 
mismanagement." 

"Your  success  encourages  me,  Mr.  "Waterbury," 
said  Tom.     "  I   am   willing   to   work   hard." 

"  I  think  you  will  succeed.  You  look  like  a 
boy  of  good   habits.     Energy,   industry,   and  good 


92  tbb  young  adventurer;  or, 

habits  can  accomplish  wonders.  But  I  think  we 
are,    on   the   point  of  starting." 

Just  before  the  gang  plank  was  drawn  in,  two 
persons   hastily  crossed   it. 

One  was  the  dark  young  man  who  had  passed 
them  on  the  way  down  to  the  boat;  the  other 
was   Milton   Graham. 

"  Mr.  Waterbury,"  said  Tom,  hurriedly,  "  do 
you  see   that  man?" 

"  Yes." 

"  He   is  the   man   that  tried   to  rob   me.' 

"We  must  be  on  our  guard,  then.  He  may 
be  up  to  more  mischief." 


TOM'S    TRIP   ACROSS    THE   PLAINS.  9S 


CHAPTER  X. 

ON   THE    STEAMER. 

In  half  an  hour  the  "River  Belle"  was  on  her 
way.  Tom  watched  the  city  as  it  receded  from 
view.  He  enjoyed  this  new  mode  of  travel  better 
than  riding  on  the  cars.  He  had  never  before 
been  on  any  boat  except  a  ferry-boat,  and  con- 
gratulated himself  on  his  decision  to  journey  by 
boat   part  of  the  way. 

Milton  Graham  had  passed  him  two  or  three 
times,  but  Tom,  though  seeing  him,  had  not  vol- 
unteered recognition.  Finding  that  he  must  make 
the  first  advances,  Graham  finally  stopped  short, 
looked  full  at  our  hero,  and  his  face  wore  a  very 
natural  expression  of  surprise  and  pleasure. 

"Why,  Tom,  is  that  you?"  he  said,  offering 
his  hand,  which  Tom  did  not  appear  to  see. 

"Yes,"   said   our   hero,    coldly. 

"  I  didn't  expect  to  see   you   here." 


94  THE    YOUNG   ADVENTURER;    OH, 

"I  told  you  I  intended  to  sail  on  the  'River 
Belle.'" 

"  So  you  did ;  but  I  thought  you  had  changed 
your   mind." 

It  made  very  little  difference  to  Tom  what  Mr. 
Graham  thought,  and  he  turned  from  him  to  watch 
the   scenery   past   which   the   boat   was   gliding. 

"I  suppose,"  continued  the  young  man,  "you 
were  surprised  to  find  me  gone,  when  you  came 
downstairs   to   breakfast." 

"Yes,    I   was." 

"He  resents  it  because  I  left  him,"  thought 
Graham.     "I   guess  I   can   bring  him   round." 

"  The  fact  was,"  explained  Graham,  in  a  plausible 
manner,  "  I  went  out  to  call  on  a  friend,  mean- 
ing to  come  back  to  breakfast ;  but  he  made  me 
breakfast  with  him,  and  when  I  did  return  you 
were  gone.  I  owe  you  an  apology,  Tom.  I  hope 
you   will   excuse   my   unintentional   neglect." 

"Oh,  certainly,"  said  Tom,  indifferently;  "it's 
of  no  consequence." 

Mr.  Graham  looked  at  him  sharply.  He  could  not 
tell   whether  our  hero  was   aware   of  hia   dishonest 


TOM'S    TRIP  ACROSS    THE    PLAINS.  95 

intentions  or  not,  but  as  Tom  must  still  have 
money,  which  he  wanted  to  secure,  he  thought  it 
best  to  ignore  his  coldness. 

"No,"  said  he;  "it's  of  no  consequence  as  long 
as  we  have  come  together  again.  By  the  way, 
have  you  secured   a  state-room  ? " 

"Yes." 

"If  the  other  berth  is  not  taken,  I  should  like 
very  much  to  go  in  with  you,"  said  Graham, 
insinuating^. 

"I  have  a  room-mate,"  said  Tom,   coolly. 

"You  have?  Who  is  it?"  demanded  Graham, 
disappointed. 

"That  gentleman,"  answered  Tom,  pointing  out 
Mr.   Nicholas   Waterbury. 

"Humph!   do   you  know   him?" 

"I   met  him   at  the   P/.tsburg  House." 

"My  young  friend,"  said  Graham,  with  the  air 
of  a  friendly  mentor,  "  I  want  to  give  you  a 
piece  of  advice." 

"Very  well." 

"Don't  be  too  ready  to  trust  strangers.  This 
Mr.  Waterbury  may  be  a  very  good   man,  but,  on 


96  THB    YOUNO  ADVENTURES  ;    OS, 

the    other  hand,    he    may    be    a    confidence    man 
Do  you   understand   me?" 

"I   think   so." 

"Now,   I   suppose  you  have  money?" 

"A   little." 

"Take  care  that  he  doesn't  get  possession  of 
it.  There  are  men  who  go  about  expressly  to 
fleece   inexperienced   strangers." 

"I  suppose  you  know  all  about  that,"  Tom 
could   not   help   saying. 

"What  do  you  mean?"  demanded  Graham, 
suspiciously. 

"You  are  an  old  traveller,  and  must  know  all 
about  the   sharpers." 

44  Oh,  to  be  sure,"  said  Graham,  immediately 
dismissing  his  suspicions.  "You  couldn't  leave 
your  companion,  could  you,  and  come  into  my 
state-room  ? " 

"  I   don't   think   I   could." 

"  Oh,  very  well.  It's  of  no  consequence.  Keep 
a   good   lookout  for  your  room-mate." 

Graham  turned  away,  and  resumed  his  walk. 
Soon  Tom    saw   him    in    company    with    the    dark 


TOlfS    TRIP   ACROSS    THE   PLAINS.  97 

young  man,   to  whom  reference  has    already  been 

made. 

"  Well,"   said    the    latter,  "  how  did    you  make 

out  with   the  boy?" 

"  He's  offish.     I  don't  know  as  he  suspects  me. 

I  wanted  to  get  him  into  my  state-room,   but  he 

has    already    taken    up    with    another  man,  —  that 

•tout  party  over  there." 

"  So  I    suspected.      I    can    tell    you    something 

ibout  that   man." 
"What?" 

"  He   carries   six  hundred   dollars   about  him." 
"You   don't  say  so!     How  did  you  find  out?" 
"  I  overheard   him   telling   the  boy   so." 
"That's  important  news.      The  boy  must  have 

a  couple   of  hundred,   or  thereabouts,  as  he  is  on 

his   way  to   California." 

"Eight  hundred  dollars    together!     That  would 

make  a  good  haul." 

"So  it  would,  but  it  won't  be  easy  to  get  it." 
While    this    conversation    was     going    on    Tom 

informed     Mr.    Waterbury     of    what     had     passed 

between   Graham   and   himself. 
7 


98  THE    YOUNG   ADVENTURER;    OR, 

"So  he  warned  you  against  me,  did  he?" 
said  Mr.   Waterbury,    laughing. 

"Yes,  he  thought  I  would  be  safer  in  his 
company." 

"  If  you  want  to  exchange,  I  will  retire,"  said 
Mr.    Waterbury,   smiling. 

"  Thank  you ;  I  would  rather  not.  I  am  glad 
I  met  you,  or  he  might  have  managed  to  get  in 
with  me." 

It  was  not  long  before  they  came  to  a  land- 
ing. It  was  a  small  river  village,  whose  neat 
white  houses,  with  here  and  there  one  of  greater 
pretensions,  presented  an  attractive  appearance 
A  lady  and  her  daughter  came  on  board  here. 
The  lady  was  dressed  in  black,  and  appeared  to 
be  a  widow.  The  girl  was  perhaps  fourteen  years 
of  age,  with  a  bright,  attractive  face.  Two 
trunks  were  put  on  the  boat  with  them,  and,  as 
they  were  the  only  passengers  from  this  landing, 
Tom   inferred   that   they   were   their    property. 

"That  is  quite  a  pretty  girl,"  said  Mr.  Water- 
bury. 

"  Yes,"   answered    Tom. 


TOl/S   TEIP  ACROSS   THE   PLAINS.  99 

'*  Tlou  ought  to  get  acquainted  with  her,"  said 
Mr.   Waterbury,  jocosely. 

u Perhaps,"  said  Tom,  shyly,  "you  will  get 
acquainted  with  them,  and  then  you  can  intro- 
duce  me." 

"  You  are  quite  sharp,"  said  Mr.  Waterbury, 
laughing.  "  However,  your  hint  is  a  good  one. 
I  may  act  upon  it." 

It  happened,  however,  that  Tom  required  no  in- 
troduction. As  the  lady  and  her  daughter  walked 
across  the  deck,  to  occupy  some  desirable  seats 
on  the  other  side,  the  former  dropped  a  kid 
glove,  which  Tom,  espying,  hastened  forward  and, 
picking   up,   politely   tendered   to  the   owner. 

"You  are  very  kind,"  said  the  lady,  in  a 
pleasant  voice.     "I   am   much  obliged." 

"Mamma  is  quite  in  the  habit  of  dropping 
her  gloves,"  said  the  young  girl,  with  a  smiling 
glance  at  Tom.  "  I  really  think  she  does  it  on 
purpose." 

"Then,  perhaps,  I  had  better  keep  near  by  to 
pick   them   up,"   said   Tom. 

"  Really,   Jennie,"    said    her   mother,    "  you    are 


100  THE    YOUNG   ADVENTURER ,'    OR, 

giving  the  young  gentleman  a  strange  impression 
of  me." 

"  Well,  mamma,  you  know  you  dropped  your 
gloves  in  the  street  the  last  time  you  were  in 
Pittsburg ;  but  there  was  no  gentleman  to  pick 
them  up,  so  I  had  to.  Are  you  going  to  Cin- 
cinnati?"  she   asked,    turning   to   Tom. 

"  Yes,  and  farther;  I  am  going  to  California," 
replied  Tom. 

"Dear  me,  you  will  be  quite  a  traveller.  I 
wish  I  were   going   to   California." 

"  You  wouldn't  like  to  go  there  on  the  same 
business   that  I   am." 

"What   is  that?" 

"I   am   going   to   dig  gold." 

"  I  don't  know.  I  suppose  it  isn't  girls'  work ; 
but  if  I  saw  any  gold  about,  I  should  like  to 
dig  for  it.  Is  that  your  father  that  was  stand- 
ing by  you?" 

"No,"  answered  Tom.  "I  never  met  him  till 
yesterday.  We  were  staying  at  the  same  hotel 
in  Pittsburg." 

"  He   seems   like  quite   a    nice   old    gentleman." 


Tom's  trip  across  the  plains.  101 

Mr.  Waterbury  was  not  over  fifty,  but  to  the 
young   girl  he   seemed   an  old   gentleman. 

"I  find  him   very  pleasant." 

There  was  a  seat  next  to  Jennie,  and  Tom 
ventured  to  occupy  it. 

"What  is  your  name?"  asked  the  young  lady, 
sociably. 

"Thomas  Nelson,  but  most  people  call  me 
Tom." 

"My  name  is  Jane  Watson,  but  everybody 
calls  me  Jennie." 

"  That  is   much  prettier  than   Jane." 

"  So  I  think.  Jane  seems  old-maidish,  don't 
you   think   so?" 

' '  Are  you  afraid  of  becoming  an  old  maid  ? " 
asked   Tom,    smiling. 

"  Awfully.  I  wouldn't  be  an  old  maid  for 
anything.  My  school-teacher  in  an  old  maid. 
She's  horridly  prim.  She  won't  let  us  laugh,  or 
talk,  or   anything." 

"  I  don't  think  you'll   grow   up    like   that." 

"I  hope  not." 

"How  you  run  on,   Jennie!"   said  her    mother 


102  THE    YOUNQ   ADVENTURER ;    OJl, 

"  What  will  this  young  gentleman  think  of 
you?" 

"  Nothing  very  bad,  I  hope,"  said  Jennie,  smil* 
ing  archly  on  Tom.  "I  suppose,"  she  continued, 
addressing  him,  "  I  ought  to  be  very  quiet  and 
reserved,  as  you   are   a   stranger." 

"  I   hope  you   won't  be,"  said  Tom,   heartily. 

"  Then  I  won't.  Somehow  you  don't  seem  like 
a  stranger.  You  look  a  good  deal  like  a  cousin  of 
mine.     I  suppose  that  is  the  reason." 

So  they  chatted  on  for  an  hour  or  more.  Jennie 
was  very  vivacious,  occasionally  droll,  and  Tom 
enjoyed  her  company.  The  mother  saw  that  our 
hero  was  well-behaved  and  gentlemanly,  and  made 
no  objection  to  the  sudden  intimacy. 


TOM'S   TRIP  ACROSS   THE  PLAINS.  108 


CHAPTER  XI. 

THE   FIB8T   DAT    ON   THE   RTVEB. 

About  half-past  twelve  dinner  was  announced. 

"  I  hope  you'll  sit  next  to  us,  Tom,"  said  Jennie 
Watson. 

"I   will,   if  I   can." 

It  happened  that  Milton  Graham  entered  the 
saloon  at  the  same  time  with  the  new  friends.  He 
took  the  seat  next  to  Jennie,  much  to  that  young 
lady's  annoyance. 

"  Will  you  be  kind  enough  to  take  the  next 
seat?"  she  asked.  "That  young  gentleman  is  to 
sit  next  to  me." 

"1  am  sorry  to  resign  the  pleasure,  but  anything 
to  oblige,"  said  Graham.  "Tom,  I  congratulate 
you,"  he   continued,   with   a   disagreeable   smile. 

"  Thank  you,"  said   our  hero,    briefly. 

"He  calls  you  Tom.  Does  he  know  you?" 
nquired  Jennie,   in   a  low  voice. 


104  THE    YOUNG   ADVENTURER /    OR, 

"  I  made  his  acquaintance  yesterday  for  the  flrsf 
time." 

"I  don't  like  his  looks;  do  you?" 

"  Wait  till  after  dinner  and  I  will  tell  you,"  said 
Tom,  fearing  that  Graham  would  hear. 

Milton  Graham  saw  that  Jennie  was  pretty, 
and   desired  to  make  her   acquaintance. 

"Tom,"  said  he,  —  for  he  sat  on  the  other  side 
of  our  hero, —  "won't  you  introduce  me  to  your 
young  lady  friend?" 

Tom  was  not  well  versed  in  etiquette,  but  his 
good  sense  told  him  that  he  ought  to  ask  Jennie's 
permission  first. 

"  If  Miss  Watson  is  willing,"  he  said,  and  asked 
her  the  question. 

Jennie  was  not  aware  of  Graham's  real  character, 
and  gave  permission.  She  was  perhaps  a  little  too 
ready  to  make  new  acquaintances. 

"  Do  you  enjoy  this  mode  of  travel,  Miss  Watson?" 
said  Graham,  after  the  introduction. 

"  Oh,  yes ;  I  think  it  very  pleasant." 

"  I  suppose  you  wouldn't  like  the  ocean  as 
well.     I  went  to  Havana  last  winter,  —  on  business 


TOM'S    TRIP  ACROSS    THE   PLAINS.  105 

for  my  father, —  and  had  a  very  rough  passage. 
The  steamer  pitched  and  tossed,  making  us  all 
miserably  sea-sick." 

"I   shouldn't  like   that." 

"  I  don't  think  you  would,  but  we  business 
men  must  not  regard  such  things." 

Tom  listened  to  him  with  incredulity.  Only  the 
day  before  he  would  have  put  full  confidence  in 
his  statement ;  but  he  had  learned  a  lesson,  thanks 
to  Graham  himself. 

"How  far  are  you  going,  Miss  Watson?"  con- 
tinued  Graham. 

"  To  Cincinnati.  My  mother  and  I  are  going 
to   live  there." 

"It  is  a  very  pleasant  city.  I  have  often  been 
there — on  business." 

"What  is  your  business,  Mr.  Graham?"  Tom 
could  not  help   asking. 

"I  see  you  are  a  Yankee,"  said  Graham,  smiling. 
"  Yankees  are  very  inquisitive,  —  always  asking 
questions." 

"  Are  you  a  Yankee,  Mr.  Graham?"  asked  Jennie. 
"  You  asked  me  where  I  was  going." 


106  THE    YOUNG  ADVENTURER  /    OR, 

11 A  fair  hit,"  said  Graham.  "  No,  I  am  not 
a   Yankee.     I   am   a   native  of  New   York." 

"  And   I   of  New  Jersey,"   said   Tom. 

"Oh,  you  are  a  foreigner  then,"  said  Graham. 
'  We   always   call   Jerseymen   foreigners." 

"  It  is  a  stupid  joke,  I  think,"  said  Tom,  who 
was   loyal   to   his   native   State. 

"  You  didn't  answer  Tom's  question,"  said  Jennie, 
who  was  a  very  straightforward  young  lady. 

"Oh,  my  father  is  a  commission  merchant," 
answered   Graham. 

"What  does   he   deal   in?" 

"  Articles  too  numerous  to  mention.  Tom,  will 
you  pass  me  the  potatoes?" 

Dinner  was  soon  over,  and  the  passengers  went 
upon  deck.     Graham  lit  a  cigar. 

"  Have  a  cigar,  Tom  ?  "  he  said. 

"  No,  thank  you;  I  don't  smoke." 

"  You'll  soon  learn.     I'll  see  you  again  soon." 

"Tom,"  said  Jennie,  "tell  me  about  this  Mr. 
Graham.     What   do   you   know   about   him?" 

"  I  don't  like  to  tell  what  I  know,"  said  Tom, 
hesitating. 


TOM'S    TRIP   ACROSS    TUB    PLAINS.  107 

"  But  I  want  you  to.  You  introduced  me,  yon 
*uow." 

"  What  I  know  is  not  to  his  advantage.  I  donl 
like  to  talk  against  a  man." 

"  You    needn't   mind    telling   me." 

On'  reflection  Tom  decided  that  he  ought  to 
tell  what  he  knew,  for  he  felt  that  Jennie  ought 
to  be  put  on  her  guard  against  a  man  whom  he 
did   not  consider   a   suitable   acquaintance   for  her. 

"  Very  well,"  said  he,  "  if  you  promise  not  to 
let   him   know   that  I   have  told  you." 

"  I    promise." 

"  He  was  my  room-mate  last  night  at  the  Pitta- 
burg  House,"  said  Tom,  in  a  low  voice.  "  During 
the   night   he   tried   to   rob   me." 

"You  don't  say  sol"  ejaculated  Jennie,  in  round- 
eyed   wonder. 

"  I   will   tell   you    the   particulars." 

This  Tom  did.     Jennie  listened  with  indignation. 

"But  I  don't  understand,"  she  said.  "Why 
should  the  son  of  a  merchant  need  to  rob  a  boy 
like  you?     He  looks  as  if  he  had  plenty  of  money." 

"  So  I  thought ;    but  the  hotel-clerk  told  me  tha* 


108  THE    YOUNQ   ADVENTURER;    OX, 

sharpers  often  appeared  like  this  Mr.  Graham,  if 
that  is    his   name.** 

"How  strange  it  seems!"  said  Jennie.  "I  wish 
you  hadn't  introduced  me." 

"I  didn't  want  to;  but  he  asked,  and  at  the 
table  I  couldn't  give  my  reasons  for  refusing." 

"My  dear  child,"  said  her  mother,  "you  are 
too  ready  to  form  new  acquaintances.  Let  this  be 
a  lesson   for  you." 

"But  some  new  acquaintances  are  nice,"  pleaded 
Jennie.     "Isn't  Tom    a  new  acquaintance?" 

"I  will  make  an  exception  in  his  favor,"  said 
Mrs.   Watson,    smiling  pleasantly. 

"Thank  you,"  said  Tom.  "How  do  you  know 
but  I  may  be  a  pick-pocket?"  he  continued,  ad- 
dressing Jennie. 

"As  I  have  only  ten  cents  in  my  pocket  I  will 
trust  you,"  said  the  young  lady,  merrily.  "  I'd 
trust  you  with  any  amount,  Tom,"  she  added, 
impulsively. 

"  Thank  you,  for  your  good  opinion,  Miss  Jennie." 
"  Don't    call    me  Jfiss  Jennie.     If   you  do,  I'll 
call  you  Mr.   Tom." 


TOJ/S    TRIP  ACROSS    THE    PLAINS.  109 

"  I  shouldn't  know  myself  by  that  title.  Then 
I'll  call  you  Jennie." 

"I  wish  you  were  going  to  live  in  Cincinnati," 
said  the  young  lady.  "It  would  be  nice  to  have 
you  come  and   see  us." 

"I  should  like  it;  but  I  mustn't  think  so  much 
of  pleasure  as   business." 

"Like   Mr.    Graham." 

"  I  must  work  hard  at  the  mines.  I  suppose 
I   shall  look  pretty   rough   when   I   am   there." 

"When  you've  made  your  pile,  Tom, — that's 
what  the}'  call  it,  isn't  it? — you'll  come  back,  won't 
you?" 

"Yes." 

"  You  must  stop  in  Cincinnati  on  your  way 
home." 

"I   wouldn't   know   where   to   find  you." 

"I  will  give  you  our  address  before  we  part. 
But  that  will  be  some  time  yet." 

About  this  time  Graham,  who  had  finished 
smoking   his   cigar,    strolled  back. 

"Miss  Watson,"  said  he,  "don't  you  feel  like 
having    a   promenade?" 


110  THE    YOUNO    ADVENTURER;    OR, 

"Yes,"  said  Jennie,  suddenly.  "Tom,  come  walk 
with    me." 

Our  hero  readily  accepted  the  invitation,  and 
the   two    walked   up   and   down    the   deck. 

"That's  what  I  call  a  snub,"  said  Graham's 
friend,  the  dark-complexioned  young  man,  who  was 
within    hearing. 

Graham's   face   was  dark   with    anger. 

"Curse  her  impudence,  and  his  too!"  he  mut- 
tered.    "  1   should    like   to  wring   the   bo3r's   neck." 

"  He   can't   help  it,    if  the   girl    prefers   his  com 
pany,"   said    the  other,   rather    enjoying    Graham's 
mortification. 

"I'll    punish  him   all   the   same." 

By  this  time  Tom  and  Jennia  were  near  him 
again,   on   their   return. 

"  You  don't  treat  me  with  much  ceremony,  Miss 
Watson,"  said   Graham,  with   an   evil   smile. 

"  My  mother  doesn't  like  me  to  make  too  many 
acquaintances,"   said   Jennie,    demurely. 

"She  is  very  prudent,"  sneered  Graham.  "You 
have  known  your  present  companion  quite  a  long 
time  " 


TOM'S    TRIP  ACROSS    THE   PLAINS.  Ill 

"I  hope  to  know  him  a  long  time,"  said  the 
young  lady,  promptly.  "  Let  us  continue  our  walk, 
Tom." 

In  discomfiture  which  he  was  unable  to  hide, 
Graham   walked   away. 

"  Evidently,  Graham,  you  are  no  match  for 
those  two  )roungsters,"  said  his  friend,  in  amuse- 
ment,   which   Graham  did   not  share. 

Graham  did  not  reply,  but  seemed  moody  and 
preoccupied. 

Tom  and  his  companion  noticed  Graham's  dis- 
pleasure, but  they  felt  indifferent  to  it.  They  had 
no  desire  to  continue  his  acquaintance.  Our  hero 
introduced  Mr.  Waterbury  to  his  new  friends,  and 
this  gentleman,  who  was  a  thorough  gentleman 
except  on  the  rare  occasion  when  he  yielded  to 
the  temptation  of  strong  drink,  made  a  favorable 
impression  upon  both. 

So  the  day  passed.  Tom  enjoyed  it  thoroughly. 
The  river  banks  afforded  a  continuous  panorama, 
while  the  frequent  stops  gave  him  an  opportunity 
of  observing  the  different  towns  in  detail.  Two 
or    three  times    he  went    ashore,   accompanied    by 


112  THE    YOUNG   ADVENTURER;    OB, 

Jennie,  and  remained  till  the  steamer  was  ready 
to  start. 

Finally  night  came,  and  one  by  one  the  weary 
passengers  retired  to  rest. 

"Good-night,  Tom"  said  Jennie  Watson.  "Ba 
up   early  in  the   morning." 

"So  as  to  get  an  appetite  for  breakfast?"  asked 
Tom,  with  a  smile. 

"  I  think  we  shall  both  have  appetite  enough ; 
but  it  will  be  pleasant  to  breathe  the  fresh  morn- 
ing  air." 

Tom  promised  to  get  up,  if  he  wakened  in  time. 

"If  you  don't  mind,  I  will  occupy  the  lower 
berth,"  said  Mr.  Waterbury.  "I  can't  climb  as 
well  as  you." 

"  All  right,  sir.     It  makes  no  difference  to  me." 


tojWs  trip  across  the  plains.  118 


CHAPTER  XII. 


NO.  61  AND  NO.  62. 


The  state-room  was  small,  as  most  state-rooms 
on  river-boats  are.  There  appeared  to  be  no  means 
of  ventilation.  Mr.  Waterbury  was  a  stout  man, 
and  inclined  to  be  short-breathed.  After  an  hour 
he  rose  and  opened  the  door,  so  as  to  leave  it 
slightly  ajar.  With  the  relief  thus  afforded  he 
was  able  to  go  to  sleep,  and  sleep  soundly.  Tom 
was  already  asleep,  and  knew  nothing  of  what  had 
happened. 

The  number  of  the  state-room  was  61.  Di- 
rectly opposite  was  62,  occupied  by  Milton  Gra- 
ham and  bis  companion. 

If  Graham  did  not  go  to  sleep  it  was  because 
his  brain  was  busily  scheming  how  to  obtain  pos- 
session of  the  money  belonging  to  his  neighbors. 

"Won't  your  key  fit?"  asked  Vincent,  for  this 
was  the  name  of  the  dark-complexioned  young  man. 


114  THE    YOUNQ   ADVENTURER;    OR, 

"No  use,  even  if  it  does.  Of  course  they  will 
lock  it  inside,  and  probably  leave  the  key  in  the 
lock." 

About  midnight,  Graham,  who  had  not  fully 
undressed,  having  merely  taken  off  his  coat,  got 
up,  and,  opening  the  door,  peered  out.  To  his 
surprise  and  joy  he  saw  that  the  door  of  No. 
61  was  ajar.  He  at  first  thought  of  rousing  Vin- 
cent, who  was  asleep ;  but  a  selfish  thought  sug- 
gested itself.  If  he  did  this,  he  must  share  with 
Vincent  anything  he  might  succeed  in  stealing ; 
if  not,   he  could  keep  it  all  himself. 

He  left  his  state-room  silently,  and  looked  cau- 
tiously around  him.  No  one  seemed  to  be  stirring 
in  the  cabin.  Next  he  stepped  across,  and, 
opening  wider  the  door  of  61,  looked  in.  The 
two  inmates  were,  to  all  appearances,  sleeping 
soundly. 

"  So  far,   so  good,"  he   said  to  himself. 

He  stepped  in,  moderating  even  his  breathing, 
and  took  up  a  pair  of  pants  which  lay  on  a  chair. 
They  belonged  to  Mr.  Waterbury,  for  Tom  had 
merely  taken  off  his  coat,   and    lain   down  as  he 


TOM'S    TRIP  ACROSS    THE    PLAINS.  115 

^as.     His  belt  of  gold  he  therefore  found  it  unnec- 
essary to  take  off. 

Graham  saw  at  once,  from  the  size  of  the  pants, 
that  they  must  belong  to  the  elder  passenger. 
This  suited  him,  however,  as  he  knew  from  Vin- 
cent's information  that  Mr.  Waterbury  had  six 
hundred  dollars,  and  Tom  could  not  be  supposed 
to  have  anything  like  this  sum.  He  felt  eagerly 
in  the  pockets,  and  to  his  great  joy  his  hand 
came  in  contact  with  a  pocket-book.  He  drew 
it  out  without  ceremony.  It  was  a  comfortable-look- 
ing wallet,   fairly   bulging   with   bills. 

"  He's  g<>„  all  his  money  inside,"  thought  Gra- 
ham, delighted.  "  What  a  fool  he  must  be 
to  leave  it  so  exposed,  —  with  his  door  open, 
too!" 

At  this  moment  Graham  heard  a  stir  in  the 
lower  berth.  There  was  no  time  to  wait.  He 
glided  out  of  the  room,  and  reentered  his  own 
state-room.  Immediately  after  his  departure  Mr. 
Waterbury,  who  had  awakened  in  time  to  catch 
sight  of  his  receding  figure,  rose  in  his  berth, 
and   drew  towards  him  the   garment  which  Graham 


lit)  THE    YOUNQ  ADVENTURER;    OS, 

had  rifled.     He  felt  in  the  pocket,  and  discovered 
that  the  wallet  had  been  taken. 

Instead   of    making    a    fuss,   he    smiled    quietly, 
and  said,    "  Just  as  I  expected." 

"  I   wonder   if   they  have  robbed  Tom,   too,"   he 
said  to  himself. 

He  rose,  closed  the  door,  and  then   shook  Tom 
with  sufficient   energy   to   awaken   him. 

"Who's   there?]"   asked  Tom,  in   some  bewilder- 
ment,  as   he   opened   his   eyes. 

"It's   I, —Mr.  Waterbury." 

"Is   it  morning?    Have   we   arrived?" 

"No,   it   is    about  midnight." 

"Is   there  anything   the   matter?" 

"  I  want  you  to  see  if  you  have  been  robbed." 

Tom   was  broad   awake   in   an   instant. 

"  Robbed  !  "  he  exclaimed,  in  alarm.     He  felt  for 
his  belt   and   was   relieved. 

"No,"  he  answered.     "  What  makes  you  ask?" 

"  Because  I  have   had  a  wallet  taken.     It  makes 
me  laugh  when  I  think  of  it." 

"  Makes  }rou   laugh !  "   repeated   Tom,  under  the 
transient  impression  that  his  companion  was  insane. 


TOM'S    TRIP   ACROSS    THE    PLAINS.  117 

"  Why    should     you    laugh    at    the    loss    of   your 
money  ?  " 

"  I  saw  the  thief  sneak  out  of  the  state-room," 
continued  Mr.  Waterbury ;  "  but  I  didn't  interfere 
with  him." 

"  You  didn't ! "  said  Tom,  completely  mystified. 
"I  would.     Did  3'ou   see   who  it   was?" 

"Yes;  it  was  your  friend  and  late  room- 
mate." 

"Mr.    Graham?" 

"As  he  calls  himself.  I  don't  suppose  he  has 
any   rightful   claim   to  the   name." 

"Surely,  Mr.  Waterbury,  you  are  not  going 
to  let  him  keep  the  money,"  said  Tom,  ener- 
getically ;  "  I'll  go  with  you,  and  make  him  give 
it  up.     Where   is   his   state-room?" 

"Just  opposite, —No.   62." 

"  We  had  better  go  at  once,"  said  Tom  sit- 
ting  up   in   his   berth. 

"Oh,  no;  he's  welcome  to  all  there  is  in  the 
pocket-book." 

"Wasn't  there   anything  in   it?" 

"It   was   stuffed    full." 


118  THE    YOUNG   ADVENTURER',    OJt, 

Tom  was  more  than  ever  convinced  that  hia 
room-mate  was  crazy.  He  had  heard  that  mis- 
fortune sometimes  affected  a  man's  mind ;  and 
he  was  inclined  to  think  that  here  was  a  case 
in  point. 

"You'll  get  it  back,"  said  he,  soothingty. 
"  Graham  can't  get  off  the  boat.  We  will  re- 
port the   matter  to  the   captain." 

"  I  don't  care  whether  I  get  it  back  or  not," 
said   Mr.   Water  bury. 

Tom  looked  so  confused  and  bewildered  that 
his  companion  felt  called  upon  to  end  the  mysti- 
fication. 

"I  know  what  is  in  your  mind,"  he  said, 
smiling.     "You  think  I  am   crazy." 

"  I  don't  understand  how  you  can  take  your 
loss  so  coolly,  sir." 

"Then  I  will  explain.  That  wallet  was  a 
dummy." 

"A  what,   sir?" 

"A  sham — a  pretence.  My  pocket-book  and 
money  are  safe  under  my  pillow.  The  wallet 
taken    by    your    friend    was    filled    with    imitation 


TOM'S   TRIP  ACROSS    THE  PLAINS.  119 

greenbacks ;  in  reality,  business  circulars  of  a  firm 
In    Marietta." 

Tom   saw  it  all  now. 

"It's  a  capital  joke,"  he  said,  laughing.  uFd 
Kke  to  see  how  Graham  looks  when  he  discovers 
the   value   of  his   prize." 

"  He  will  look  green,  and  feel  greener,  I  sus- 
pect," chuckled  Mr.  Waterbury.  "  You  are  cer- 
tain you   have   lost  nothing,   Tom?" 

"  Perfectly   certain,    sir." 

"  Then  we  won't  trouble  ourselves  about  what 
has  happened.  I  fancy,  however,  it  will  be  best 
to  keep  our  own  door  locked  for  the  remainder 
of  the   night,   even   at   the   risk   of   suffocation." 

"  That's  a  capital  trick  of  yours,  Mr.  Water- 
bury,"   said   Tom,    admiringly. 

"It  has  more  than  once  saved  me  from  rob- 
bery. I  have  occasion  to  travel  considerably,  and 
so   am   more   or  less   exposed." 

"  I  wonder  if  Graham  will  discover  the  cheat 
before   morning." 

'*  I  doubt  it.  The  state-rooms  are  dark,  and 
the   imitation   is   so   good   that    on    casual    inspec- 


120  THE    YOUNG   ADVENTURER;    OR, 

tion  the  strips  of  paper  will  appear  to  be  genuine 
greenbacks." 

Mr.  Waterhury  retired  to  his  berth,  and  was 
soon  asleep  again.  Tom,  as  he  lay  awake,  from 
time  to  time  laughed  to  himself,  as  he  thought 
of  Graham's  coming  disappointment,  and  con- 
gratulated himself  that  he  and  that  young  man 
were    no    longer    room-mates. 

When  Graham  returned  to  his  state-room  Vin- 
cent, who  was  a  light  sleeper,  was  aroused  by  the 
slight   noise   he    made. 

"Are   you   up,    Graham?"   he   asked. 

"  Yes ;    1    got   up   a   minute." 

"  Have  you    been   out  of  the   state-room  ? " 

"  Yes." 

"What   for?" 

"  To  get   a   glass   of  water." 

There  was  a  vessel  of  water  in  the  cabin,  and 
this   seemed  plausible  enough. 

"Any   chance   of  doing   anything   to-night?" 

"No,   I  think  not." 

Vincent  sank  back  on  his  pillow,  and  Graham 
got  back   into   his    own   berth.      Quietly    he   drew 


TOM'S    TRIP  ACROSS    THE   PLAINS.  121 

the  wallet  from  his  pocket,  in  which  he  had 
placed  it,  and  eagerly  opened  it.  The  huge  roll 
of  bills   was   a   pleasant   and   welcome   sight. 

"  There's  all  of  six  hundred  dollars  here ! "  he 
said  to  himself.  "  I  mustn't  let  Vincent  know 
that   I   have   them." 

It  occurred  to  Graham  that,  of  course,  Mr. 
Waterbury  would  proclaim  his  loss  in  the  morn- 
ing, and  it  also  occurred  to  him  that  he  might  be 
able  to  fasten  suspicion  upon  Tom,  who,  as  his 
room-mate,  would  naturally  have  the  best  chance 
to  commit  the  robbery.  One  thing  might  crimi- 
nate him,  —  the  discovery  of  the  wallet  upon  his 
person.  He  therefore  waited  till  Vincent  was 
once  more  asleep,  and,  getting  up  softly,  made  his 
way  to  the  deck.  He  drew  the  bills  from  the 
wallet,  put  them  in  an  inside  pocket,  and  threw 
the   wallet  into   the   river. 

"  Now  I'm  safe,"  he  muttered,  with  a  sigh  of 
relief.  "The  money  may  be  found  on  me,  but 
no  one   can   prove  it  is   not   my   own." 

He  gained  his  berth  without  again  awakening 
his  companion. 


122  the  younq  adventurer;  or, 

"  A  pretty  good  night's  work ! "  he  said  to 
himself,  in  quiet  exultation.  "  Alone  I  have 
succeeded,  while  Vincent  lies  in  stupid  sleep. 
He  is  no  match  for  me,  much  as  he  thinks  of 
himself.  I  have  stolen  a  march  upon  him  this 
time." 

It  is  not  in  accordance  with  our  ideas  of  the 
fitness  of  things  that  a  man  who  has  committed 
a  midnight  robbery  should  be  able  to  sleep 
tranquilly  for  the  balance  of  the  night ;  but  it  is 
at  any  rate  certain  that  Graham  slept  soundly 
till  his  room-mate   awakened  him   in  the   morning. 

"  Rouse  up,  Graham,"  he  said.  "  Breakfast  is 
nearly  ready." 

44 Is   it?"   asked   Graham. 

44  Instead  of  sleeping  there,  you  ought  to  be 
thinking  how  we  can  make  a  forced  loan  from 
our   acquaintances   in    61." 

44  To  be  sure,"  said  Graham,  smiling.  "1  am 
rather  stupid  about  such  things.  Have  you  any 
plan   to   suggest?" 

44  You  seem  very  indifferent  all  at  once,"  said 
Vincent. 


TOM'S    TRIP   ACROSS   THE   PLAINS.  123 

"  Not  at  all.  If  you  think  of  anything  prac- 
tical  I   am  your   man." 

He  longed  to  get  rid  of  Vincent,  m  order  to 
have   an  opportunity  of  counting  his  roll  of  bilk 


124  the  touno  adventurer:  or. 


CHAPTER    XIII. 
graham's   disappointment. 

Milton  Graham,  on  reaching  a  place  where  he 
could  do  so  unobserved,  drew  from  his  pocket 
the  roll  of  bills,  with  a  smile  of  exultation.  But 
the  smile  faded,  and  was  succeeded  by  a  look 
of  dismay,  when  he  recognized  the  worthlessness 
of  his  booty.  An  oath  rose  to  his  lips,  and  he 
thrust  the  roll  back  into  his  pocket,  as  he  no- 
ticed the   approach   of  a   passenger. 

"  It's  a  cursed  imposition ! "  he  muttered  to 
himself,  and  he  really  felt  that  he  had  been 
wronged   by   Mr.    Waterbury. 

"What  are  }rou  doing  out  here,  Graham?" 
asked  Vincent,  for  it  was  Lis  confederate  who 
approached. 

"Nothing  in  particular.  Why?"  responded  Gra- 
ham. 

"What   makes   you   look   so   glum?" 


TOM'S    TRIP  ACROSS    THE   PLAINS.  125 

"Do  I   look  glum?" 

"  You  look  as  if  you  had  but  one  friend  in 
the    world,    and   were   about   to   lose   bim." 

"That   may  be  true  enough,"  muttered   Graham. 

"  Come,    man,   don't   look   so   downcast." 

"  I'm   out  of  luck,    and   out  of  cash,    Vincent." 

"We're  both  in  the  same  boat,  as  far  as 
that  goes ;  but  that  isn't  going  to  last.  How 
about  our  stout  friend?  Can't  we  make  him  con- 
tribute  to   our   necessities?" 

"  I   don't   believe   he's   got    any   money." 

"No?  Why,  I  heard  him  tell  the  boy  he  had 
six   hundred   dollars." 

"Where  does   he   keep   it?" 

"In   his   pocket-book   probably." 

"  Wiil  you  oblige  me  by  stating  how  we  are 
going   to   get   hold   of  it  ? " 

"  I  look   to  you   for   that." 

"  He's  too  careful.  I  leave  you  to  try  your 
hand." 

"  Let  me  go  in  to  breakfast.  There's  nothing 
like   a   full  stomach   to   suggest   ideas." 

So    the    two    went    to    the    breakfast-table,    and 


126  THE    YOUNG   ADVENTURER /    OR, 

Graham,  in  spite  of  his  disappointment,  managed 
to  eat  a  hearty  meal. 

An  hour  later  Mr.  Waterbury  and  Tom  were 
standing  on  deck,  conversing  with  Jennie  Watson 
and  her  mother,  when  Graham  and  Vincent  ap- 
proached arm  in  arm.  As  soon  as  they  were 
within  hearing  distance  Mr.  Waterbury  purposely 
remarked,  "  By  the  way,  Mrs.  Watson,  I  met 
with   a   loss    last   night." 

"Indeed!"   returned  the  lady. 

Graham  was  about  to  push  on,  not  wishing 
Vincent  to  hear  the  disclosure,  as  it  might 
awaken  his  suspicions ;  but  the  tatter's  curiosity 
was   aroused. 

"  Wait,  Graham,"  he  said ;  and  Graham,  against 
his   will,  was  compelled   to  slacken   his   pace. 

"A  man  entered  my  state-room  during  the 
night,    and   stole   a    wallet    from   my   coat- pocket." 

Graham  changed  color  a  little,  and  Vincent 
seemed  amazed. 

"Did  you  hear  that,   Graham?"  he  asked. 

"  Yes." 

"What  does  it  mean?" 


TOM'S    TRIP  ACROSS    THE   PLAINS.  127 

"How  can   I  tell?" 

"I  hope  you  did  not  lose  much,"  said  Mrs. 
Watson,  in  a   tone   of  sympathy. 

"  I  lost  the  wallet,"  said  Mr.  Waterbury, 
laughing. 

"  Was   there   nothing   in   it?" 

"It  was  full  of  bills." 

Vincent  looked  at  Graham  with  new-born  sus- 
picion, but  Graham  looked    indifferent. 

"It  appears  to  me  that  you  take  tb«  loss 
cheerfully,"   said  Mrs.   Watson,   puzzled. 

"  I  have  reason  to.  The  fact  is,  I  was  prepared 
for  the  visit,  and  had  filled  the  wallet  with  bo- 
gus bills.  I  fancy  they  won't  do  my  visitor 
much  good." 

The  lady  smiled. 

"You  were  fortunate,  Mr.  Waterbury,"  said  she* 
"  Do  you  suspect  any  one  of  the  theft?" 

"I  know  pretty  well  who  robbed  me,"  re- 
turned Mr.  Waterbury,  and  he  suffered  his 
glance  to  rest  on  Graham,  who  seemed  in  a 
hurry  to  get  away. 

"  Come   along,   Vincent,"  he  said  sharply. 


128  THE    TOUNQ   ADVENTURER ;    OR, 

Vincent  obeyed.  Light  dawned  upon  him,  and 
he  determined  to  verify  his  suspicions. 

•'  Graham,"  said  he,  in  a  low  voice,  "  you 
.did  this" 

"  Did  what?" 

"You   got  that  wallet." 

Graham  concluded  that  he  might  as  well  make  a 
clean  breast  of  it,  since  it  had  become  a  matter  of 
necessity. 

"Well,"  said  he,  "suppose  I  did?" 

"  You  were  not  going  to  let  me  know  of  it," 
said  Vincent,    suspiciously. 

"  That  is  true.  I  was  ashamed  of  having  been 
Imposed  upon." 

"  When  did  you  find  out  that  the  money  was 
bogus?" 

"  Immediately." 

"If  it  had  been  good,  would  you  have  shared 
with  me  honorably?" 

"Of  course.     What  do  you  take  me  for?" 

Vincent  was  silent.  He  did  not  believe  his  com- 
panion. He  suspected  that  the  latter  had  intended 
to  steal  a  march  on  him. 


tom's  tuip  across  the  plains.  129 

u  You  might  have  told  me  of  it,"  he  continued,  in 
a  tone  of  dissatisfaction. 

"There  was  no  need  to  say  anything,  as  there 
was  nothing  to  divide." 

"Have  you  got  the  wallet  with  you  now?" 

"  No  ;  I  threw  it  overboard." 

"And  the  bills?" 

"  You  may  have  them  all,  if  you  like." 

"  Come  into  the  state-room,  where  we  can  be 
unobserved,   and   show   them   to  me." 

Graham  complied  with  his  suggestion. 

"It  would  have  been  a  good  haul  if  they  had 
been  genuine,"  said  Vincent,  as  he  unfolded  the 
roll. 

"  Yes,  but  they  are  not ;   worse  luck  I  " 

"I  didn't  give  the  old  fellow  credit  for  being 
so  sharp." 

"  Nor  I.  There's  more  iu  him  than  I  suppoeed 
there  was." 

"Well,  what  is  to  be  done?" 

"Nothing.  The  old  man  is  on  his  guard,  and, 
besides,  he  suspects  me.  He  was  probably  awake 
when  I  entered  the   state-room.     He  and   the  boy 


130  THE    YOUNG   ADVENTURER;    OR, 

have  probably  laughed  over  it  together.  I  hate 
that  boy." 

"Why?" 

"  Because  he  is  a  green  country -boy,  and  yet  he 
has  succeeded  in  thwarting  me.  I  am  ashamed 
whenever   I   think  of  it." 

"  Would  you  like  to  play  a  trick  on  him  in  turn?  " 

"Yes." 

"Then  give   me  this  roll  of  bills." 

"What  do  you  want  to  do  with  them?" 

"Put  them   in   his   pocket." 

"Can  you  do  it  unobserved?" 

"  Yes.  The  fact  is,  Graham,  I  served  an 
apprenticeship  as  a  pick-pocket,  and  flatter  myself 
I  still  have  some  dexterity  in  that  line." 

"Very  well,  it  will  be  some  satisfaction,  and  if 
the  old  man  didn't  see  me  enter  the  state-room, 
he  may  be  brought  to  believe  that  the  boy 
robbed  him.  If  that  could  be,  I  should  feel  partly 
compensated  for  my  disappointment.  I  should  like 
to  get  that  boy  into  trouble." 

"Consider  it  done,  so  far  as  I  am  concerned. 
Now  let  us  separate,  so  as  to   avoid  suspicion." 


Tom's  trip  across  the  plains.  }Z\ 

Vincent  began  to  pace  the  deck  in  a  leisurely 
manner,  in  each  case  passing  near  Tom,  who  was 
•till  engaged  in  conversation  with  Jennie  Watson 
and  her  mother.  For  a  time  he  was  unable  to 
effect  his  purpose,  as  our  hero  was  sitting  down. 
But  after  a  while  Tom  rose,  and  stood  with  his 
back  to  Vincent.  He  wore  a  sack  coat,  with 
side  pockets.  This  was  favorable  to  Vincent, 
who,  as  he  passed,  adroitly  slipped  the  bills  into 
one  of  them,  without  attracting  the  attention  of 
our  hero. 

Presently  Tom  thrust  his  hand  into  his  pocket 
mechanically.  They  encountered  the  bills.  In 
surprise  he  drew  them  out,  and  looked  at  them 
in   amazement. 

"What's  that,  Tom?"  asked  Jennie,  with  great 
curiosity. 

"It  looks  like  money,"  answered  Tom,  not 
yet  understanding   what   had   happened. 

"  You  seem  to  be  rich." 

"By  gracious!  —  it's  Mr.  Waterbury's  money," 
exclaimed  Tom.  Then  he  colored,  as  it  flashed 
upon    him   that   its   presence   in   his   pocket    might 


132  THE    YOUNQ    ADVEXTURER;    ORy 

arouse  suspicion.     "I  don't  see  how  it  got  there,' 
he  continued,  in  a  bewildered  way. 

Just  then  Mr.  Watcrbury  came  up,  an<i  was  made 
acquainted  with  the  discovery. 

"  I  don't  know  what  you'll  think,  Mr.  Water- 
bury,"  said  Tom,  coloring;  "I  haven't  the  slightest 
idea  how  the  money  came  in  my  pocket." 

"I  have,"  said  Mr.  Waterbury,  quietly. 

Tom  looked  at  him,  to  discover  whether  he  was 
under  suspicion. 

"  The  companion  of  your  friend  Graham  slipped 
it  into  your  pocket.  He  was  very  quick  and  adroit, 
but  I  detected  him.  He  wanted  to  throw  suspicion 
upon  you." 

"It  is  lucky  you  saw  him,  sir." 

"Why?" 

"  You  might  have  suspected  me." 

"  My  dear  boy,  don't  trouble  yourself  about  that. 
No  circumstantial  evidence  will  shake  my  confidence 
in  your  integrity." 

"  Thank  you,  sir,"  said  Tom,  gratefully. 

"  What  a  wicked  man  to  play  such  a  trick  on 
you,  Tom ! "  exclaimed  Jennie,  indignantly. 


TOM'S    TRIP  ACROSS    THE   PLAINS.  133 

"  I  see  there  is  somebody  else  who  has  confi- 
dence in  you,  Tom,"  said  Mr.  Waterbury,  smiling , 
"I'd  like  to  give  him  a  piece  of  my  mind." 

"I  am  ready  to  forgive  him,"  said  Mr.  Water- 
bury,  "as  he  hag  restored  the  money.  It  will 
do  as  a  bait  for  the  next   thief.1* 


134  THE    YOUKQ  ADVENTURER',    OX, 


CHAPTER  XIV. 

COMEKO   TO   AN   UNDERSTANDING. 

"  I  believe,  Tom,"  said  Mr.  Waterbury,  "  that 
I  will  come  to  an  understanding  with  these  officious 
acquaintances  of  yours.  I  will  intimate  to  them 
that  their  persecution  must  cease." 

"Will   they   mind   what  you   say,   sir?" 

"  I  think  they  will,"  answered  his  friend,  quietly. 

Graham  and  Vincent  were  standing  together, 
and  apart  from  the  rest  of  the  passengers,  when 
Mr.   Waterbury   approached   them. 

"  A  word  with  you,  gentlemen,"  said  he,  gravely. 

"I  don't  know  you,   sir,"   blustered  Vincent. 

"  Perhaps  not.  Permit  me  to  remark  that  I 
have  no  special  desire  for  your  acquaintance." 

"Then  why  do  you  take  the  liberty  of  address- 
ing me?" 

"I  rather  admire  the  fellow's  impudence,"  said 
Mr.  Waterbury  to  himself. 


TOlfs    TRIP  ACROSS    THE   PLAINS.  185 

1  Aje  you  associated  with  this  gentleman?"  he 
asked,  indicating  Graham. 

•v  We   are   friends." 

"  flien  I  will  address  an  inquiry  to  him.  I 
anu  not  in  the  habit  of  receiving  calls  in  aay 
state-room  during  the  hours  of  sleep." 

11 1  don't  understand  you,  sir,"  said  Milton 
Graham,   with  hauteur. 

"Oh,  yes,  you  do,  unless  your  memory  is  singu- 
larly defective.  Our  state-rooms  are  close  together. 
You  entered  mine  last  night." 

"  You   must  have  been   dreaming." 

"  If  so,  I  was  dreaming  with  my  eyes  open. 
Perhaps  it  was  in  my  dreams  that  I  saw  you 
extract  a  wallet  from   my  coat-pocket." 

"Do  you  mean  to  insult  me,  sir?"  demanded 
Graham. 

"  Really,  sir,  your  remarks  are  rather  extraor- 
dinary,"  chimed   in   Vincent. 

"Do  you  mean  to  say  that  I  robbed  you?" 
demanded  Graham,  confident  in  the  knowledge 
that  the   booty   was   not  on   his   person. 

"  I  find  a  wallet  missing.     That  speaks  for  itself." 


136  the  young  adventurer;  or, 

"  Let  me  suggest  that  your  room-mate  probably 
took  it,"  said  Vincent. 

"  Extremely  probable,"  said  Graham.  "  He 
roomed  with  me  in  Pittsburg,  and  I  caught  him 
at  my  pockets  during  the  night." 

"  Did  you  ever  hear  the  fable  of  the  wolf  and 
the  lamb,  Mr.  Graham?"  asked  Mr.  Waterbury. 

"Can't   say   I  have." 

"  It's  of  no  consequence.  I  am  reminded  of 
it,  however." 

"  Come  to  think  of  it,"  said  Vincent,  "  I  saw 
the  boy  with  a  roll  of  bills.  You  had  better 
search  him.     If  he  is  innocent,  he  can't  object." 

"I  see  your  drift,"  returned  Mr.  Waterbury, 
after  a  pause.  "I  saw  you  thrust  the  bills  into 
his  pocket,  as  he  stood  with  his  back  turned, 
conversing  with  one  of  the  passengers.  It  was 
very  skilfully  done    but   I  saw   it." 

Vincent  started  for  he  had  supposed  himself 
unobserved. 

"  I  see  yop  &  determined  to  insult  us,"  he 
said  "  I  '-'111  charitably  conclude  that  you  are 
drunk." 


toaSs  trip  across  the  plains.  137 

"I  can't  be  so  charitable  with  you,  sir.  I 
believe  you  are  a  pair  of  precious  scoundrels, 
who,  if  you  had  your  deserts,  would  be  in  the 
penitentiary   instead   of  at   large." 

"I  have  a  mind  to  knock  j-ou  down,"  said 
Vincent,   angrily. 

As  Vincent  was  several  inches  shorter  and  much 
slighter  than  the  person  whom  he  threatened,  this 
menace  sounded  rather  ridiculous. 

"You  are  at  liberty  to  try  it,"  said  the  latter, 
smiling.  "  First,  however,  let  me  warn  you  that, 
if  you  continue  to  annoy  us,  it  will  be  at  your 
peril.  If  you  remain  quiet  I  shall  leave  you  alone. 
Otherwise  I  will  make  known  your  true  character 
to  the  captain  and  passengers,  and  you  will 
undoubtedly  be  set  ashore  when  we  reach  the 
next  landing.  I  have  the  honor  to  wish  you  good- 
morning." 

"It  strikes  me,  Graham,"  said  Vincent,  as  Mr. 
Waterbury  left  them,  "that  we  have  tackled  the 
fn"ong  passenger." 

"  I  believe  you  are  right,"  said  Graham.  "  Just 
my   luck." 


188  THE    YOUNQ   ADVENTURER;    OR, 

"  There  isn't  much  use  in  staying  on  the  boat. 
He  will  keep  a  good  lookout  for   us." 

"  True ;  but  I   don't  want  to  give  up   the  boy." 

**  He   is  under  the    guardianship  of   this   deter- 
mined  old   party." 

**  They  will   separate   at   Cincinnati." 

"Well?" 

"  He  has  money  enough    to  take    him  to  Call 
fornia.     He  is   worth  following   up." 

"  Then    you  are  in  favor  of   going  on   to  Cin 
cinnati  ?  " 

"By   all   means." 

"  Very  well.     There  are  always  chances  of  mak- 
ing an  honest  penny  in  a  large  city." 

"Money  or  no  money,  I  want  to  get  even  with 
the  boy." 

So    the    worthy    pair    decided    to    go    on    to 
Cincinnati. 


T0X?3    TRIP  ACROSS    THE   PLAIN'S.  139 


CHAPTER  XV. 


THE    ALLEGHANY     HOUSK. 


It  was  a  bright,  sunny  morning  when  the 
"River  Belle"  touched  her  pier  at  Cincinnati. 
The  passengers  gathered  on  deck,  and  discussed 
their  plans.  In  one  group  were  Tom,  Mr.  Water- 
bury,   Jennie    Watson,  and   her   mother. 

"  I  am  sorry  you  are  going  to  leave  us,  Tom,** 
said  Jennie ;  "  I  shall  feel   awfully   lonely." 

"So  shall   I,"    said   Tom. 

"  What's  the  use  of  going  to  that  hateful 
California  ?     Why   can't    you   stay   here   with   us  ? " 

"  Business  before  pleasure,  Jennie,"  said  her 
mother.  "  You  mustn't  forget  that  Tom  has  his 
fortune  to   make." 

"  I  wish  he  could  make  it  in  Cincinnati, 
mother." 

"So  do  I;  but  I  must  admit  that  California 
presents   a   better    prospect   just   at  present.     You 


140  THE    TOVNQ  ADVENTURER',    OS, 

are  both  young,  and  I  hope  we  may  meet  Tom 
in  after  years." 

"When  I  have  made  my  pile,"  suggested 
Tom. 

"Precisely." 

"You  won't  go  right  on,  Tom,  will  you?" 
asked  Jennie.     "  You'll  stay  here  a  day  or  two." 

"Yes;  I  should  like  to  see  something  of  Cin- 
cinnati." 

"And  you'll  call  on  us?" 

"  I  shall  be  very  happy  to  do  so.  Where  are 
you  going  to  stay?" 

"  At  the  Burnet  House.  Won't  you  come 
there   too  ?  " 

"Is  it  a  high-priced   hotel?" 

"  I  believe  it  is." 

"  Then  I  cannot  afford  to  stay  there ;  but  I 
can  call  on  you   all  the   same." 

"  Stay  there  as  my  guest,  Tom,"  said  Mr.  Water- 
bury,  cordially.  "  It  shall  not  cost  you  any- 
thing." 

"  Thank  you,  sir.  You  are  very  kind ;  but  I 
don't  like    to    accept    unnecessary    favors.     I    will 


TOifS    TRIP  ACROSS    THE   PLAIJTS.  141 

put  up  at  some  cheap  hotel,  and  call  upon  you 
both." 

"  You  would  be  heartily  welcome,  my  boy,** 
said  Mr.  Waterbury. 

"I  don't  doubt  it,  sir,  and  the  time  may  come 
when  I  will  gladly  accept  your  kindness,"  replied 
Tom. 

"  But  now  you  mean  to  have  your  own  way ; 
is  that   it,   Tom?" 

"You  won't  be  offended,  sir?" 

"  On  the  contrary,  I  respect  you  for  your  manly 
independence.  You  won't  forget  that  I  am 
your   friend  ?  " 

"I   don't   want   to   forget   that,   sir." 

So  it  happened  that  while  Mrs.  Watson,  Jen- 
nie, and  Mr.  Waterbury  registered  at  the  Bur- 
net House,  Tom,  carpet-bag  in  hand,  walked 
through  the  streets  till  he  came  to  a  plain  inn, 
bearing  the  name  Alleghany  House.  It  is  not 
now  in  existence,  having  given  way  to  an  im- 
posing business  block. 

"  That  looks  as  if  it  might  suit  my  purse," 
thought  Tom. 


142  TUB   younq  adventurer;  or, 

He  walked  in,  and,  approaching  the  desk,  In- 
quired, "How  much  do  you  charge  at  this 
hotel?" 

"  A  dollar  a  day,"  answered  the  clerk.  "Will 
you   have   a   room?" 

"  Yes,  sir." 

11  Please   register  your  name."     Tom   did  so. 

"  Cato,"  called  the  clerk,  —  summoning  a  colored 
boy,  about  Tom's  size,  — "  take  this  young  man 
to  No.    18." 

"  All  right,  sar,"  said  Cato,  showing  his  ivo- 
ries. 

"When  do  you   have  dinner?"   asked   Tom. 

"One    o'clock." 

Preceded  by  Cato,  Tom  walked  upstairs,  and 
was  ushered  into  a  small,  dingy  room  on  the 
second  floor.  There  was  a  single  window,  look- 
ing through  dingy  panes  upon  a  backyard. 
There  was  a  general  air  of  cheerlessness  and  dis- 
comfort, but  at  any  rate  it  was  larger  than  the 
state-room   on   the    "  River    Belle. " 

"Is  this  the  best  room  you  have?"  asked 
Tom,   not   very   favorabh     impressed. 


TOlfS    TRIP  ACROSS    THE   PLAINS.  143 

u0h,  no,  sar,"  answered  Cato.  "If  your  wife 
was  with  you,  sar,  we'd  give  you  a  scrumptious 
room,   'bout  twice  as  big." 

"I  didn't  bring  my  wife  along,  Cato,"  said 
Tom,   amused.     "Are  you  married?" 

"Not  yet,  sar,"  answered  his  colored  guide, 
with   a  grin. 

"  I  think  we  can  wait  till  we  are  a  little 
older." 

"  Reckon   so,   sar." 

"Just  bring  up  a  little  water,  Cato.  I  feel 
in   need   of  washing." 

"  Dirt  don't  show  on  me,"  said  Cato,  with  a 
guffaw. 

"  I  suppose  you  do  wash,  now   and   then,   don't 

you?" 

"Yes,  sar,  sometimes,"  answered  Cato,  equivo- 
cally. 

When  Tom  had  completed  his  toilet  he  found 
that  it  was  but  ten  o'clock.  He  accordingly 
went  downstairs,  intending  to  see  a  little  of 
the  city  before  dinner. 


144  THB    YOUNG   ADVENTURER;    OH, 


CHAPTER  XVI. 

THE    EVBKTS    OF    A    MORNING. 

Graham  and  Vincent  had  kept  quiet  during 
the  latter  part  of  the  voyage.  They  had  a 
wholesome  fear  of  Mr.  "Waterbury,  and  kept 
aloof  from  him  and  Tom.  They  even  exchanged 
their  state-room  for  one  at  a  different  part  of 
the  boat.  All  was  satisfactory  to  Tom  and  hia 
companion. 

When  the  worthy  pair  reached  Cincinnati  they 
were  hard  up.  Their  united  funds  amounted  to 
but  seven  dollars,  and  it  seemed  quite  necessary 
that  they  should  find  the  means  of  replenishing 
their  purses  somewhere.  They  managed  to  ascertain 
that  Tom  and  his  friend  were  going  to  separate,  and 
this  afforded  them  satisfaction,  since  it  made  their 
designs  upon  our  hero  more  feasible.  At  a  distance 
they  followed  Tom  to  the  Alleghany  House,  and 
themselves  took   lodgings  at   a   small,  cheap  tavern 


Tom's  trip  across  the  plains.  145 

near  by.     Like  Tom,  they  set  out  soon  after  their 
arrival  in  quest  of  adventure. 

"We  must  strike  a  vein  soon,  Graham,"  said 
Vincent,  "  or  we  shall  be  in  a  tight  place." 

"  That's  so,"  answered  Graham. 

"  Thus  far  our  trip  hasn't  paid  very  well.  It's 
been   all  outgo   and   no   income." 

"You're  right,  partner;  but  don't  give  up  the 
ship,"  responded  Graham,  whose  spirits  returned, 
now  that  he  was  on  dry  land.  "I've  been  in  the 
same  straits  about  once  a  month  for  the  last  five 
years." 

"I've  known  you  for  three  years,  Graham,  and, 
so  far  as  my  knowledge  extends,  I  can  attest  the 
truth  of  what  you  say.  By  the  way,  you  never 
say  anything  of  your  life  before   that  date." 

A  shadow  passed  over  Graham's  face. 

"Because  I  don't  care  to  think  of  it;  I  never 
talk   of  it,"   he  said. 

"Pshaw,  man,   we  all    of   us    have    some    ugly 
secrets.     Suppose  we  confide  in  each  other.     Tell 
me  your  story,  and  I  will  tell  you  mine.     It  won't 
change  my  opinion  of  you." 
10 


146  THE    YOUNG   ADVENTURER  ;    OR, 

"Probably  not,"  said  Graham.  "Well,  there  is 
no  use  in  holding  back.  For  this  once  I  will  go 
back  to  the  past.  Five  years  ago  I  was  a  favorite 
in  society.  One  day  an  acquaintance  introduced 
me  into  a  gambling-house,  and  I  tried  my  hand 
successfully.  I  went  out  with  fifty  dollars  more 
than  I  brought  in.  It  was  an  unlucky  success,  for 
it  made  me  a  frequent  visitor.  All  my  surplus 
cash  found  a  market  there,  and  when  that  w&a 
exhausted  I  borrowed  from  my  employer." 

"Without  his   knowledge?" 

"  Of  course.  For  six  months  I  evaded  discovery 
Then  I  was  detected.  My  friends  interceded,  and 
saved  me  from  the  penitentiary ;  but  I  lost  my 
situation,  and  was  required  to  leave  the  city.  I 
went  to  New  York,  tried  to  obtain  a  situation 
there,  failed,  and  then  adopted  my  present  pro- 
fession.    I  need  not  tell  you  the  rest." 

"My  dear  friend,  I  think  I  know  the  rest  pretty 
rvell.  But  don't  look  sober.  A  fig  for  the  past. 
What's   the   odds,   as   long   as  you're   happy?" 

"Are   you   happy?"   inquired   Graham. 

"  As    long    as    I'm    flush,"     answered    Vincent, 


TOJ/S    TRIP  ACROSS    THE   PLAINS.  147 

shrugging  his  shoulders.  "I'm  nearly  dead-broke 
now,  and  of  course  I  am  miserable.  However,  my 
story  comes  next  in  order.  I  was  a  bank  teller, 
appropriated  part  of  the  funds  of  the  bank,  fled 
with  it,  spent  it,  and  then  became  an  ornament  to 
our  common  profession." 

4  •  Where  was  the  bank  ?  " 

"  In  Canada.  I  haven't  been  there  since.  The 
climate  don't  suit  me.  It's  bleak,  but  I  fear  it 
might  prove  too  hot  for  me.  Now  we  know  each 
other." 

' '  You  don't  allow  it  to  worry  you,  Vincent," 
said  Graham. 

"No,  I  don't.  Why  should  I?  I  let  the  dead 
past  burjT  its  dead,  as  Longfellow  says,  and  act 
in  the  living  present.  That  reminds  me,  we  ought 
to  be  at  work.  I  have  a  proposal  to  make.  We 
won't  bunt  in  couples,  but  separate,  and  each  will 
try  to  bring  home  something  to  help  the  common 
fund.     Is  it  agreed  ?  " 

"  Yes." 

"  Au   revoir,  then  ! " 

"That  fellow   has   no  conscience,"  thought   Gr» 


148  THE    YOUNQ   ADVENTURER;    OR, 

ham.  "  Mine  is  callous,  but  he  goes  beyond  me. 
Perhaps  he  is  the  better  off." 

Graham  shook  off  his  transient  dull  spirits,  and 
walked  on,  keeping  a  sharp  lookout  for  a  chance 
to  fleece  somebody.  In  front  of  a  railroad  ticket- 
office  he  espied  a  stolid-looking  German,  who  wag 
trying  to  read   the   placard   in   the   window. 

Graham  approached  him,  and  said  politely,  "  My 
friend,  perhaps  I  can  help  you.  Are  you  thinking 
of  buying  a  railroad  ticket?" 

The  German  turned,  and  his  confidence  was 
inspired  by  the  friendly  interest  of  Graham's  man- 
ner. 

"  I  go  to  Minnesota,"  he  said,  "  where  my  brother 
live." 

"  Exactly,  and  you  want  a  ticket  to  go  there?" 

"  Yes,  I  want  a  ticket.     Do  they  sell  him  here?  " 

"No,"  said  Graham.  "That  is,  they  do  sell 
tickets  here ;  but  they  ask  too  much." 

"I  will  not  pay  too  much,"  said  the  German, 
shaking  his   head  decisively. 

"Of  course  not;  I  will  take  you  to  a  cheaper 
place." 


TOlfS   TRIP  ACROSS    THE   PLAINS.  14b 

"  That  is  good,"  said  the  German,  well  pleased. 
"It  is  luck  I  meet  mit  a  friend  like  you." 

"Yes,"  said  Graham,  linking  his  arm  in  that 
of  his  new  acquaintance.  "  I  don't  like  to  see  a 
worthy  man  cheated.  Come  with  me.  How  much 
money  have  you  ?  " 

This  inquiry  ought  to  have  excited  the  suspicions 
of  the  German ;  but  he  was  trustful,  and  answered 
promptly,  "  Two  hundred  dollar." 

Graham's  eyes   sparkled. 

"If  I  could  only  get  the  whole  of  it,"  he 
thought.     But  that  didn't  seem  easy. 

They  walked  through  street  after  street  till 
Graham   stopped   in   front   of  an   office. 

"  Now,"  said  he,  "  give  me  your  money,  and  I 
will  buy  the  ticket." 

"How  much  mone}r?"  asked  his  new  acquaint- 
ance. 

"  I  don't  know  exactly,"  said  Graham,  carelessly. 
"Just  hand  me  your  pocket-book,  and  I  will 
pay  what  is   needed." 

But  here  the  German's  characteristic  caution 
came  in. 


150  THE    YOUNQ   ADVENTURER;    0«, 

"  I  will  go  with  you,"  he   said. 

"  If  you  do,  I  can't  get  the  tickets  so  cheap. 
The  agent  is  a  friend  of  mine,  and  if  he  thinks 
it  is  for  me  he  will  give  it  to  me  for  less. 
Don't  give  me  all  your  money.  Fifty  dollars  will 
do.  I  will  buy  the  ticket,  and  bring  you  the 
rest  of  the  money." 

This  seemed  plausible  enough,  and  Graham  would 
have  got  what  he  asked  for,  but  for  the  inter- 
ference of  Tom,  who  had  come  up  just  in  time 
to  hear  Graham's  proposal.  He  had  no  difficulty 
in  comprehending  his  purpose. 

"Don't  give  him  the  money,"  he  said.  "He 
will  cheat  you." 

Both  Graham  and  his  intended  victim  wheeled 
round,   and  looked   at  our  hero. 

"  Clear  out  of  here,  you  young  vagabond ! " 
said   Graham,    angrily. 

"This  man  wants  to  cheat  you,"  persisted  Tom. 
•'  Don't  give  him  your  money." 

The  bewildered  foreigner  looked  from  one  to 
the  other. 

"This   is   no  ticket-office,"    said  Tom.     "I   will 


TOifS    TRIP  ACROSS    THE   PLAINS.  151 

lead  yon  to  one,  and  you  shall  buy  a  ticket  foi 
yourself." 

"  He  wants  to  swindle  you,"  said  Graham, 
quickly. 

"You  shall  keep  your  money  in  your  own 
hands,"  said  Tom.     "  I   don't  want   it." 

"I  go  with  you,  my  young  friend,"  said  the 
German,  convinced  by  Tom's  houest  face.  "  The 
other  man  may  be  all  right,  but  I  go  with  you." 

Graham  protested  in  vain.  His  victim  went  off 
with  Tom,  who  saw  that  he  was  provided  with 
the  ticket  he  wanted.  His  new  friend  tried  to 
force  a  dollar  upon  him ;  but  this  Tom  steadily 
refused. 

"I'll  get  even  with  you  yet!"  said  Graham, 
furiously ;  but  our  hero  was  not  disturbed  by  this 
menace. 

Vincent,  meantime,  was  making  a  tour  of  obser- 
vation, ready  for  any  adventure  that  might  put 
an  honest  or  dishonest  penny  into  his  pocket. 
About  half  an  hour  later  he  found  himself  on 
the  leading  retail  street  in  Cincinnati.  In  front 
of  him  walked   a  lady,  fashionably  attired,  holding 


152  THE    YOUNQ   ADVENTURER;    OR, 

a  mother-of-pearl  porte-monnaie  carelessly  in  her 
hand.  He  brushed  by  her,  and  at  the  same 
moment  the  pocket-book  was  snatched  from  her 
hand. 

The  lady  screamed,  and  instinctively  clutched 
Vincent  by   the   arm. 

"  This  man  has  robbed  me,  I  think,"  she  said. 
The  crowd  began  to  gather  about  Vincent,  and 
he  saw  that  he  was  cornered.  Among  the  crowd, 
unluckily  for  himself,  was  Tom.  By  a  skilful 
movement  Vincent  thrust  the  porte-monnaie  into 
our  hero's  pocket. 

"You  are  mistaken,  madam,"  he  said,  coolly; 
"  i   saw  chat  boy  take   your  money." 

Instantly  two   men   seized   Tom. 

"Search  him,"  said  Vincent,  "and  see  if  I  am 
not  right." 

The  porte-monnaie  was  taken  from  Tom's  pocket, 
amid  the  hootings  of  the  crowd. 

"  So  young,  and  yet  so  wicked ! "  said  the  lady, 
regretfully. 

"I  didn't  take  the  money,  madam,"  protested 
Tom,  his  face  scarlet  with  surprise  and  mortification- 


TOM'S    TRIP  ACROSS    THE   PLAINS.  153 

"  Don't  believe  him,  ma'am.  I  saw  him  take 
it,"   said   Vincent,   virtuously. 

Poor  Tom  looked  from  one  to  another ;  but  all 
faces  were  unfriendly.  It  was  a  critical  time  for 
him 


lM  THE    YOUNQ  ADVENTURES',    OM, 


CHAPTER    XVn. 

TOIL'S   ARREST. 

To  one  who  is  scrupulously  honest  a  sudden 
charge  of  dishonesty  is  almost  overwhelming.  Now, 
Tom  was  honest,  not  so  much  because  he  had 
been  taught  that  honesty  was  a  virtue,  as  by  tem- 
perament and  instinct.  Yet  here  he  saw  himself 
surrounded  by  hostile  faces,  for  a  crowd  soon 
collected.  Not  one  believed  in  his  innocence,  not 
even  the  lady  who  thought  it  was  such  a  pity 
that  he  was   "  so  young   and  yet   so   wicked." 

"Will  somebody  call  a  policeman?"  asked 
Vincent. 

A  policeman  soon  made  his  appearance.  He 
was  a  stout,  burly  man,  and  pushed  his  way 
through  the  crowd  without  ceremony. 

"What's   the   row?"   he   inquired. 

"  This    boy    has    picked    a   lady's    pocket,"    ex 
claimed  Vmcent. 


TOM'S   TRIP  ACROSS    THJE   PLAINS.  155 

The   officer  placed    his   hand    roughly   on    Tom's 
shoulder. 

44  You   were   a   little   too    smart,   young    feller  I  " 
said   he.     "You   must  come   along   with   me." 

"I    didn't    take     the    money,"    protested    Tom, 
pale,   but  in   a  firm   voice. 
"That's  too   thin,"   said  Vincent,   with  a   sneer. 
"Yes,   it's  too  thin,"  repeated  two  or  three   in 
the   crowd. 
"It's   true,"  said  Tom. 

"Perhaps  you'll    tell    us    how  the    money   came 
in  your  pocket,"  suggested   a  bystander. 

"That    man    put    it    in,"  answered    Tom,    indi- 
cating Vincent. 
The  latter  shrugged  his   shoulders. 
"He    says     so,   because    I    exposed    him,"    he 
remarked,    turning   to   the   crowd. 

"Of  course;  that's  a  common  game,"  inter- 
posed  the   policeman. 

"Have  you  any  reason  for  what  you  say,  my 
boy?"  asked  a  quiet-looking  man,  with  a  pleas- 
ant face. 

"  Of  course   he   hasn't,"  replied  Vincent,  hastily. 


156  THE    YOUNG   ADVENTURER ;    OR, 

"  I  spoke  to  the  boy,   sir." 

"  I  have  a  reason,"  answered  Tom.  "  A  friend 
of  this  man  roomed  with  me  at  Pittsburg,  and 
during  the  night  tried  to  rob  me.  We  were  both 
passengers  on  the  '  River  Belle '  on  the  last  trip. 
During  the  trip  he  entered  our  state-room,  and 
stole  a  wallet  from  my  room-mate.  This  man 
slyly  put  it  into  my  pocket,  in  order  to  escape 
suspicion." 

"  It's  a  lie ! "  exclaimed  Vincent,  uneasily. 
"  Gentlemen,  the  boy  is  very  artful,  and  the 
greatest  liar  out." 

"Of  course  he  is!"  assented  the  policeman. 
"  Come   along,   young  feller ! " 

"Wait  a  minute,"  said  the  quiet  man.  "Have 
you  any  proof  of  your  statements,  my  boy, 
except  your  own   word?" 

"Yes,  sir;  my  room-mate  will  tell  you  the 
same  thing." 

"Who  is  he?    Where  can  he  be  found?" 

"  He  is  Mr.  Nicholas  Waterbury,  of  Mariett*. 
He   is   now  at   the   Burnet  House." 


Tom's  trip  across  the  plains.  157 

"  That's  all  gammon ! "  said  the  officer;  roughly. 
"  Come  along.     I  can't  wait  here  all  day." 

"  Don't  he  in  a  hurry,  officer,"  said  the  quiet 
man.  "  I  know  Mr.  Waterbury,  and  I  believe 
the  boy's  story  is  correct." 

'*  It  aint  any  of  your  business ! "  said  the 
officer,  insolently.  "  The  boy's  a  thief,  and  I'm 
goin'  to  lock  him  up." 

*'  Look  out,  sir !  "  said  the  quiet  man,  sternly. 
"  You  are  overstepping  the  limits  of  your  duty, 
and  asserting  what  you  have  no  possible  means 
of  knowing.  There  is  reason  to  believe  that  this 
man  (pointing  out  Vincent)  is  the  real  thief.  I 
call  upon  you  to  arrest  him." 

"  I  don't  receive  no  orders  from  you,  sir,"  said 
the  policeman.  "I'm  more  likely  to  take  you 
along." 

"  That's  right,  officer,"  said  Vincent,  approv- 
ingly. "The  man  is  interfering  with  you  in  the 
exercise  of  your  duty.  You  have  a  perfect  right 
to  arrest  him." 

"  I  have  a  great  mind  to,"  said  the  officer, 
who  was  one  of  the  many  who  are  puffed   up  by 


158  THE    YOUNQ   ADVENTURER;    OR, 

a  little   brief    authority,    and   lose    no    opportunity 
of  exercising  it. 

The  quiet  man  did  not  seem  in  the  least 
alarmed.  He  smiled,  and  said,  "Perhaps,  officer, 
it  might  be  well  for  you  to  inquire  my  name, 
before  proceeding  to  arrest  me." 

"Who  are  you?"  demanded  the  officer,  inso- 
lently. 

"I  am   Alderman   Morris." 

A  great  change  came  over  the  policeman. 
He  knew  now  that  the  quiet  man  before  him  was 
President  of  the  Board  of  Aldermen,  and  he 
began  to  be  alarmed,  remembering  with  what 
rudeness   he   had    treated   him. 

"I  beg  your  pardon,  sir,"  he  said,  humbly; 
"I   didn't   know   you." 

"What     is     your     name,     sir?"     demanded    the 
alderman,   in   a   tone   of  authority. 
"  Jones,    sir." 

"How   long  have    you  been  on  the  force?" 
"  Six  months,   Your   Honor." 
"Then  you  ought  to   be    better  fitted    for  youi 
position   by   this    time." 


TOtfs   TRIP  ACROSS    THE   PLAINS.  159 

"I  hope  you  won't  take  no  offence  at  what 
1  said,    not   knowing  you,    alderman." 

"That's  no  personal  offence;  but  I  object  to 
your  pronouncing  upon  the  guilt  of  parties 
arrested  when  you  know  nothing  of  the  matter  " 

"Shall  I   take   the   boy   along,    sir?" 

"  Yes,  and  this  man  also.  I  don't  wish  to 
interfere  with  the  exercise  of  justice,  but  it  is  my 
opinion  that  the  boy  is  innocent." 

"I  protest  against  this  outrage,"  said  Vincent, 
nervously.  -Am  I  to  be  punished  because  I 
expose  a  thief?" 

"Come  along,  sir,"  said  the  policeman.  "The 
alderman  says  so." 

"I  appeal  to  the  gentlemen  present,"  said 
Vincent,  hoping  for  a  forcible  deliverance. 

"  Madam,"  said  the  alderman  to  the  lady  who 
had  been  robbed,  "did  you  see  the  boy  take 
your   pocket-book?" 

"No,  sir;  I  thought  it  was  the  man,  tiil  he 
told  me  it  was  the  boy,  and  the  money  wag 
found  on   the  boy." 

"I    should    think    that    told     the    story,"    said 


160  THE    YOUNG   ADVENTURER',    OS, 

Vincent.  "Any  man  here  might  be  arretted  as 
soon  as  I.  Fellow-citizens,  is  this  a  free  country, 
where  a  man  of  reputation  can  be  summarily 
arrested  at  the  bidding  of  another?  If  so,  I 
would   rather  live   under   a  monarchy." 

There  was  a  murmur  of  approval,  and  some 
sympathy   was   excited. 

"There  will  be  no  injustice  done,  sir,"  said 
the  alderman.  "I  propose  to  follow  up  this 
matter  myself.  I  will  see  my  friend,  Mr.  Water- 
bury,  and  I  can  soon  learn  whether  the  boy's 
story  is    correct." 

"He  may  lie  too!"  said  Vincent,  who  had 
very  good  reasons  for  fearing  Mr.  Waterbury's 
testimony. 

"  Mr.  Waterburj  is  a  gentleman  of  veracity v" 
said  Alderman  Morris,  sharply.  "I  see  you 
recognize  the    name." 

"Never  heard  of  him,"  said  Vincent.  "I  sup- 
pose  it   is   one   of  the  boy's   confederates." 

"I  will  answer  for  him,"  said  the  alderman. 
"My  boy,"  he  said,  "I  hope  we  shall  be  able 
to   prove  your  innocence.      Be   under   no    anxiety. 


TOM'S  TRIP  ACROSS   THE  PLAINS.  161 

Go  with  the  officer,  and  I  will  seek  out  Mr. 
Waterbury.  Officer,  take  care  to  treat  him 
gently." 

"All   right,   sir!" 

There  was  no  fear  now  that  Tom  would  be 
roughly  treated.  He  had  too  much  regard  for 
his  own  interest,  and  his  tenure  of  office,  to 
disoblige  a  man  so  influential  and  powerful  as 
Alderman    Morris. 

Notwithstanding  there  had  been  such  a  turn 
in  his  favor,  Tom  felt  humiliated  to  feel  that  he 
was  under  restraint,  and  his  cheeks  burned  with 
shame  as  he  walked  beside  the  officer.  Vincent, 
upon  the  other  side,  gnashed  his  teeth  with  rage, 
as  he  thought  of  his  unexpected  detention.  Just 
as  revenge  was  in  his  grasp,  he  had  been  caught 
in  the  same  trap  which  he  had  so  willingly  set 
for  Tom. 

"  That  Alderman  Morris  is  a  fool ! "  he  said. 
"  He  isn't   fit   to    be  in   office." 

"Don't  you   say  nothin'    against  him!"  said  the 

policeman.     "  It   won't   be  best  for  you.     He's  ore 

of  our   leadin'   citizens,  Alderman   Morris  is." 
11 


162  THE    YOUNQ   ADVENTURER ,'    OR, 

"He  snubbed  you!"  sneered  Vincent.  "He 
talked   to  you   as   if  you   were   a  dog." 

"  No,  he  didn't.  You'd  better  shut  up,  pris- 
oner." 

"  Oh,  well,  if  you're  willing  to  be  trampled 
upon,  it  isn't  any  of  my  business.  I  wouldn't 
stand  it,  alderman  or  no  alderman.  Such  things 
wouldn't  be  allowed  in   New  York,  where  I  live." 

"  Oh,  New  York's  a  model  city,  so  I've  heard," 
retorted  the  policeman,  in  a  tone  of  sarcasm. 
"  We    don't  pretend   to  come    up    to  New  York." 

Finding  that  nothing  was  to  be  gained  by  con- 
tinuing his  attacks  upon  the  alderman,  Vincent 
became  silent ;  but  his  brain  was  active.  He  felt 
that  Mr.  Waterbury's  testimony  would  be  fatal  to 
him.  He  must  escape,  if  possible.  Soon  a 
chance  came.  He  seized  his  opportunity,  shook 
off  the  grasp  of  the  officer,  and  darted  away. 
Not  knowing  what  to  do  with  Tom,  who  was 
also  under  arrest,  the  officer  paused  an  instant, 
then,    leaving  our    hero,   hastened   in   pursuit. 

"  Now's  your  chance  to  escape,  boy!"  said  a 
sympathetic   bystander   to   him. 


TOM'S    TRIP  ACROSS    THE    PLAINS.  168 

"I  don't  want  to  escape,"  answered  Tom.  "I 
want  my  innocence  proved.  I  shall  stay  where 
I   am   till   the   officer   returns." 

And  he  kept  his  word.  Ten  minutes  later  the 
officer  came  back  puffing  and  panting,  after  an 
unsuccessfully  pursuit,  prepared  to  find  Tom  gone 
also. 

"What,  are  you  there?"  he  asked,  staring  in 
wonder. 

"Yes,"  said  Tom;  "I  don't  want  to  escape. 
I  shall  come  out  right." 

"I  believe  you  will,"  said  the  officer,  with  a 
revulsion  of  sentiment  in  Tom's  favor.  "Just 
walk  along  beside  me,  and  I  won't  take  hold  of 
you.     I'm  not  afraid  of  your  running  away  now." 


164  THE    YOUNQ   ADVENTURER',    0R% 


CHAPTER  XVIII. 

TOM  GET8   OUT   OP   HIS   DIFFICULTY. 

Tom  had  not  been  long  in  the  station-house 
when  Alderman  Morris,  accompanied  by  Mr. 
Waterbury,  entered.  The  latter  looked  at  Tom 
with   a  humorous   smile. 

"  You  don't  appear  to  get  along  very  well 
without  my  guardianship,  Tom,"  he  said. 

"  No,  sir,"  answered  Tom.  "  The  trouble  is, 
some  of  my  other  friends   can't  let  me  alone." 

"Was  it  in  a  fit  of  emotional  insanity  that 
you  relieved  the  lady  of  her  pocket-book?"  asked 
Mr.  "Waterbury,   bent  on   keeping   up   the  joke. 

"  If  I  ever  do  such  a  thing,  you  may  be  sure 
it  is  because  I  am  insane,"  answered  Tom,  posi- 
tively. 

"I  shall,"  said  Mr.  Waterbury,  seriously. 
'*  Now,  where  is  this  precious  acquaintance  of 
ours   who   got  you ,.  into   this   scrape  ?  " 


TOifs   TRIP  ACROSS    THE   PLAINS.  165 

"He  has  escaped." 

"  Escaped ! "  exclaimed  the  alderman,  hastily. 
"How   is  that?" 

Here  the  policeman  took  up  the  story,  and 
explained  that  Vincent  had  taken  advantage  of 
his  double  charge  to  effect  his  escape. 

"I  suppose,  officer,"  said  Mr.  Waterbury,  "that 
you  were  unwilling  tc  leave  Tom  in  order  to 
pursue   him." 

"I  did  leave  him,  sir,  and  didn't  expect  to 
find  him  when  I  got  back.  But  there  he  was, 
waiting  for  me   as   quietly  as  —  anything." 

"Didn't  you  feel  tempted  to  escape  too,  my 
boy?" 

"Why  should  I,  sir?  I  had  done  nothing;  I 
had  nothing  to  fear." 

"Innocence  is  not  always  a  protection,  for 
justice  is  sometimes  far  from  clear-sighted.  In 
the  present  case,  however,  I  think  you  will  not 
suffer  for  your  confidence." 

Tom  was  not  brought  to  trial.  Mr.  Waterbury'B 
statement  of  what  had  passed  on  the  voyage  of 
the   "River  Belle"   was   held    to    be    sufficient    tc 


166  THE    YOUNG   ADVENTURER;    O/t, 

establish  Tom's  innocence,  and  he  was  allowed  to 
walk  out  with  Mr.  Waterbury. 

**  Have  you  anything  to  do  this  morning,  Tom?" 
asked  his  friend. 

"No,  sir." 

"Then  come  round  and  dine  with  me  at  the 
Burnet  House.  Afterwards  we  will  call  upon  your 
friends,  the  Watsons." 

Mrs.  Watson  and  Jennie  had  altered  their  plans 
and  gone  to  a  boarding-house,  preferring  that  to  a 
hotel. 

"  That   will   be   agreeable   to   me,    sir." 

The  dinner  was  excellent,  and  Tom  did  full 
Justice  to  it. 

"  At  one  time  this  morning,  Tom,  it  looked  as 
if  you  would  dine  at  quite  a  different  place,"  said 
Mr.  Waterbury,  when  thej7  were  eating  the  dessert. 

"Yes,   sir." 

"You  won't  think  much  of  Cincinnati's  hospi- 
tality, eh,  Tom?" 

"  Any  place  would  be  the  same,  where  Vincent 
was,"  returnei  Tom. 

"Very  true;   he  and  Graham  will  bring  discredit 


TOM'S    TRIP  ACROSS    THE   PLAINS.  167 

on  any  city  which  they  adopt  as  a  home.  Kow 
long  shall  you  remain  here  ?  " 

"  I  should  like  to  staj7  long  enough  to  see  some- 
thing of  the  city,  but  I  cannot  afford  it.  I  must 
reach  California  as  soon  as  possible." 

"No  doubt  you  are  right,  in  your  circumstances. 
I  have  been  inquiring  for  you,  and  find  that  St. 
Joseph,  in  Missouri,  is  the  usual  starting-point  for 
travellers  across  the  plains.  I  find  an  acquaint- 
ance here  in  the  hotel,  who  will  start  to-morrow 
for  that  place.  I  have  mentioned  you  to  him, 
and  he  says  he  shall  be  glad  to  have  your  com- 
pany so  far.  Whether  you  keep  together  after- 
wards  will   depend   upon  yourselves." 

"  I  shall  be  glad  to  have  compan}-,  sir,"  said 
Tom.  Though  manly  and  self-reliant,  he  realized 
that  it  was  quite  a  serious  undertaking  for  a  boy 
of  his  age  to  make  the  trip  alone.  He  was  not 
sure  of  meeting  with  another  friend  like  Mr. 
Waterbury,  and  there  might  be  danger  of  falling 
in  with  another  brace  of  worthies  like  Graham 
and  Vincent 

"My  friend's  name  is  Ferguson,  —  a  Scotchman. 


168  the  young  adventurer;  or, 

rather  sedate,  but  entirely  trustworthy.  I  will 
introduce  you  this  evening." 

"Thank  you,   sir." 

After  dinner  they  walked  to  Mrs.  Watson's 
boarding-house.  Somewhere  on  Vine  street  Mr. 
Waterbury   paused   in  front  of  a  jewelry  store. 

"  I  want  to  step  in  here  a  minute,  Tom,"  he 
said. 

11  Certainly,  sir." 

Tom  remained  near  the  door  while  Mr.  Water- 
bury  went  into  the  back  part  of  the  store,  where 
he  was  occupied  for  a  few  minutes  with  one  of 
the  proprietors.  When  he  came  back  he  held  a 
small   box   in   his  hand. 

"  Please  carry  this  for  me,   Tom,"  he   said. 

"  With   pleasure,    sir." 

They  went  out  into   the   street  together. 

"Do  you  know  what  is  in  the  box,  Tom?" 
asked  Mr.  Waterbury. 

"  No,  sir,"  answered  our  hero,  a  little  surprised 
at  the  question. 

"You  didn't  see  what  I  was  buying,  then?" 
continued   Mr.   Waterbury. 


TOM'S    TRIP  ACROSS    THE    PLAINS.  lbi* 

"No,  sir;  I  was  watching  the  crowds  on  the 
sidewalk." 

"  If  you  have  any  curiosity,  you  may  open  the 
box." 

Previously  Tom  had  felt  no  curiosity.  Now  he 
did  feel  a  little. 

Opening  the  box,  his  eye  rested  on  a  neat 
silver  watch,  with  a  chain  attached.  The  case 
was  a  pretty  one,  and  Tom  glanced  at  it  with 
approval. 

"  It  is  very  pretty,  sir,"  he  said;  "but  I 
thought  you    had    a   watch   already." 

"I   didn't   buy   it  for   myself." 

"For  your   son?"   asked   Tom,    innocently. 

Mr.    Waterbury   smiled. 

"I  thought  of  asking  your  acceptance  of  it," 
he  said. 

"  You  don't  mean  that  you  are  going  to  give 
It  to  me,  sir?"  said  Tom,   eagerly. 

"If  you   will   accept   it." 

"  How  kind  you  are,  Mr.  Waterbury  I  "  exclaimed 
Tom,  gratefully.  "  There  is  nothing  in  the  world 
that  I  should  like  so  much.     How  can  I  thank  you  ?  " 


170  the  young  adventurer ;  or, 

"By  considering  it  a  proof  of  my  interest  in 
yon.  I  was  sure  you  would  like  it.  Before  I  had 
reached  your  age  the  great  object  of  my  ambition 
was  a  watch.  I  received  one  from  my  uncle,  aa 
a  gift,  on  my  seventeenth  birthday.  I  believe  I 
looked  at  it  once  in  five  minutes  on  an  average 
during  the  first  day." 

"  I  dare  say  it  will  be  so  with  me,  sir,"  said 
Tom,  who,  at  the  moment,  had  the  watch  in  his 
hand,  examining  it. 

"  As  you  are  to  rough  it,  I  thought  it  best  to 
get  you  a  hunting-case  watch,  because  it  will  be 
less  liable  to  injury.  When  you  become  a  man 
I  hope  you  will  be  prosperous  enough  to  buy  a 
gold  watch  and  chain,  if  you  prefer  them.  While 
you   are  a  boy  silver  will  be   good  enough." 

"  Gold  wouldn't  correspond  very  well  with  my 
circumstances,"  said  Tom.  "I  didn't  dream  of 
even  having  a  silver  watch  and  chain  for  years 
to  come.  I  shall  write  home  this  evening,  and 
tell  mother   of  my  good   luck." 

14  Will  you  mention  that  you  have  alreadj'  been 
under  arrest  ? "   asked   Mr.  Waterbury,  smiling. 


T03fS    TRIP  ACROSS    THE   PLAINS.  171 

Tom   shook  his   head. 

"  I  am  not  proud  of  that,"  he  answered ;  "  and 
it  would  only  trouble  them  at  home  to  have  an 
account  of  it.  When  I  get  home,  I  may  mention  it 
sometime." 

"  Better  put  on  your  watch  and  chain,  Tom, 
before  we  reach  Mrs.  Watson's." 

Tom   needed   no   second   invitation. 

"  It's  lucky  mother  put  a  watch-pocket  in  my 
vest,"  he  said.  "  We  didn't  either  of  us  suppose 
there  would  be  any  occasion  for  it ;  but  I  asked 
her  to  do  it." 

In  a  nice-looking  brick  boarding-house  —  for  brown- 
stone  houses  were  not  then  often  to  be  found  — 
Tom  and  his  friend  found  Mrs.  Watson  and 
Jennie. 

"  I'm  so  glad  to  see  you,  Tom,"  said  Jennie. 
"I've   missed  you  awfully." 

"  Thank  you,"  said  Tom.  "  I've  come  to  bid 
you  good-by." 

"Good-by!     You  don't  mean  that?" 

"I  expect  to  start  for  St.  Joseph  to-morrow. 
I   am  in   a   hurry  to   get  to   California." 


172  TRK   tovno  adventurer;  ok, 

"  That' 8  real  mean.  I  don't  see  why  you  can't 
Btay    in   Cincinnati   a   week." 

"I    should    like   to." 

4 4  Then  why  don't  you  ? "  persisted  the  young 
girl. 

44  Jennie,"  said  her  mother,  44  we  must  remem- 
ber that  Thomas  is  not  travelling  for  pleasure. 
He  is  going  to  California  to  seek  his  fortune. 
It   won't  do   for   him   to   linger   on   his   way." 

44  A  week  won't  make  much  difference ;  will  it, 
Tom?" 

44 1  am  afraid  it  will,  Jennie.  Besides,  a  friend 
of  Mr.  Waterbury  will  start  to-morrow,  and  has 
agreed  to  take  me  with  him." 

44  I  suppose  you've  got  to  go,  then,"  said  Jennie, 
vegretfully.  44  Oh,  where  did  you  get  that  Tatch, 
Tom?" 

44  A  kind  friend  gave  it  to  me." 

44  Who  do  you  mean,  —  Mr.  Graham?"  she 
asked,    archly. 

44  He  would  be  more  likely  to  relieve  me  of  it. 
No,   it   is   Mr.    Waterbury." 

44 1    am   goin£   to  kiss  you   for  that,  Mr.  Water- 


TOM'S    TRIP   ACROSS    THE    PLAINS.  173 

bury,"  said  Jennie,  impulsively ;  and  she  suited 
the   action   to  the   word. 

"What  will  Mr.  Waterbury  think,  Jennie?" 
said   her   mother. 

11  He  thinks  himself  well  repaid  for  his  gift," 
answered  that  gentleman,  smiling;  "and  half  in- 
clined to  give  Tom  another  watch." 

"  Isn't  it  my  turn  now?"  asked  Tom,  with  a 
courage  at  which  he  afterwards  rather  wondered ; 
but  he  was  fast  getting  rid  of  his  country  bash- 
fulness. 

"  I    never   kiss   boys,"   said   Jennie,    demurely. 

"  Then  I  will  grow  into  a  man  as  fast  as  I 
can,"  said  Tom,  4k  and  give  somebody  a  watch, 
and  then  —  But  that  will  be  a  good  while  to 
wait." 

"  I  may  kiss  you  good- by,"  said  Jennie,  "  if 
I  feel   like   it." 

She  did  feel  like  it,  and  Tom  received  the  kiss. 

"  It  strikes  me,  Tom,"  said  Mr.  Waterbury,  aa 
they  were  walking  home,  "  that  you  and  Jennie 
are  getting  along  fast." 

"  She   kissed   you   first,"   said   Tom,    blushing. 


174  THE    YOUNG   ADVENTURER;    OR, 

44  But  the  kiss  she  gave  me  was  whollv  on 
your  account." 

"She  seems  just  like  a  sister,"  said  Tom. 
"  She's  a  tip-top  girl." 


Tom's  trip  across  the  plains.  175 


CHAPTER     XTX. 

K   MISSOURI   TAVERN. 

The  next  day  Tom  started  on  his  way.  His 
new  companion,  Donald  Ferguson,  was  a  sedate 
Scotchman,  and  a  thoroughly  reliable  man.  He 
was  possessed  to  the  full  of  the  frugality  char- 
acteristic of  the  race  to  which  he  belonged,  and, 
being  more  accustomed  to  travelling  than  Tom, 
saved  our  hero  something  in  the  matter  of  expense. 
He  was  always  ready  to  talk  of  Scotland,  which 
he  evidently  thought  the  finest  country  in  the 
world.  He  admitted  that  Glasgow  was  not  as 
large  a  city  as  London,  but  that  it  was  more 
attractive.  As  for  New  York,  that  city  bore  no 
comparison  to  the  chief  city  of  Scotland. 

"You  must  go  to  Scotland  some  time,  Tom," 
he  said.  "If  you  can't  visit  but  one  country  in 
the  Old  World,  go  to  Scotland." 

Privately  Tom  was  of  opinion    that    he    should 


J  76  THE    YOUNG    ADVENTURER;    OR. 

prefer  to  visit  England;  but  he  did  not  \entur« 
to  hurt  the  feelings  of  his  fellow-traveller  by 
saying  so. 

"  I  wonder,  Mr.  Ferguson,"  he  could  not  help 
sajing  one  day,  "  that  you  should  have  been 
willing  to  leave  Scotland,  since  you  so  much 
prefer   it   to  America." 

"  I'll  tell  you,  my  lad,"  answered  the  Scotch- 
man. "  I  would  rather  live  in  Scotland  than  an}T- 
where  else  on  God's  footstool ;  but  I  won't  be 
denj'ing  that  it  is  a  poor  place  for  a  man  to 
make  money  if  compared  with  a  new  country  like 
this." 

"There   are   no  gold   mines,    I   suppose,  sir?" 

"No;  and  the  land  is  not  as  rich  as  the  land 
here.  It  is  rich  in  historical  associations ;  but  a 
man,  3*ou  know,  can't  hve  on  those,"  he  added, 
ehrewdly. 

"  No,  I  should  think  not,"  said  Tom.  "  It 
would  be  pretty  dry  diet.  How  long  have  you 
been   in   the   country,    Mr.    Ferguson?" 

"  A  matter  of  three  months  only,  my  lad.  It's 
the   gold  mines  that  brought  me  over.     I   read  of 


TOM'S    TRIP  ACROSS    TUB    PLAINS.  177 

them  in  the  papers  at  home,  and  I  took  the  first 
ship  across  the  Atlantic." 

"Have  you  a   family,   Mr.  Ferguson?" 

"  I've  got  an  old  mother  at  home,  my  lad,  who 
looks  to  me  for  support.  I  left  fifty  pounds  with 
her  when  I  came  away.  It'll  last  her,  I'm  thinkin', 
till    I   can   send   her   some   from   California." 

"  Then,  Mr.  Ferguson,  you  are  like  me,"  said 
Tom.  u  I  am  going  to  California  to  work  for 
my  father  and  mother.  Father  is  poor,  and  I  have 
brothers  and  sisters  at  home  to  provide  for.  I 
hope  I   shall   succeed,    for  their   sake." 

"You  will,  my  lad,"  said  the  Scotchman,  in 
a  tone  of  calm  confidence.  "It  is  a  noble  pur- 
pose, and  if  you  keep  to  it  God  will  bless  you 
in  your  undertaking,  and  give  you  a  good  fortune." 

"  I    hope  we   shall    both    be    fortunate." 

"  I  have  no  fear.  I  put  my  trust  in  the  Lord, 
who  is  always  ready  to  help  those  who  are  working 
for  him." 

Tom  found  that  Mr.  Ferguson,  though  his  manner 
was  dry  and  unattractive,  was  a  religious  man, 
and  he  respected  and  esteemed  him  for  his  excel- 
12 


178  THE    YOUNG  ADVENTURER;    OS, 

lent  traits.  He  was  not  a  man  to  inspire  warm 
affection,  but  no  one  could  fail  to  respect  him. 
He  felt  that  he  was  fortunate  in  having  such  a  man 
for  his  companion,  and  he  was  glad  that  Mr. 
Ferguson  appeared  to  like  him  in  turn. 

He  also  found  that  the  Scotchman,  though  a 
man  of  peace,  and  very  much  averse  to  quarrelling, 
was  by  no  means  deficient  in  the  trait  of  personal 
courage. 

One  evening  they  arrived  at  a  small  tavern  in 
a  Missouri  town.  Neither  Tom  nor  his  companion 
particularly  liked  the  appearance  of  the  place  nor 
its  frequenters,  but  it  appeared  to  be  the  only 
place  of  entertainment  in   the  settlement. 

The  bar-room,  which  was  the  only  public  room 
set  apart  for  the  use  of  the  guests,  was  the  resort 
of  a  party  of  drunken  roisterers,  who  were  playing 
poker  in  the  corner,  and  betting  on  the  game. 
At  the  elbow  of  each  player  was  set  a  glass  of 
whiskey,  and  the  end  of  each  game  was  marked 
by  a  fresh  glass   all  around. 

Tom  and  Mr.  Ferguson  took  a  walk  after 
supper,    and    then    sat    down    quietly    at    a    little 


TOM'S    TRIP  ACROSS    THE    PLAINS.  179 

distance    from   the   card-players,    attracting    at  first 
but  little   attention   from   them. 

Presently,  at  the  close  of  a  game,  glasses  were 
ordered  for  the  party,  at  the  expense  of  those 
who  had    suffered   defeat. 

"  What'll  you  have,  strangers?"  inquired  a  tipsy 
fellow,  with  an  Indian  complexion  and  long  black 
hair,   staggering   towards    Ferguson. 

"Thank  you,  sir,"  said  the  Scotchman;  "but 
1  don't  drink." 

"Don't  drink!"  exclaimed  the  former,  in  evident 
surprise.  "  What  sort  of  a  man,  pray,  may  you 
be? 

"  I  am  a  temperance  man,"  said  Ferguson, 
adding  indiscreetly,  "  and  it  would  be  well  for 
you  all  if  you  would  shun  the  vile  liquor  which 
is  destroying   soul   and   body." 

" }rour    impudence !  "   ejaculated   the   other, 

in   a  rage.     "  Do    you    dare    to    insult    gentlemen 
Hke   us?" 

"  I  never  insult  anybody,"  said  the  Scotchman, 
calmly.  "  What  I  have  said  is  for  your  good, 
and   you   would  admit  it  if  you   were   sober." 


180  THE    YOUNQ   ADVENTURER  ',    Oil, 

"  Do  you  dare  to  say  I'm  drunk  ? "  demanded 
the  man,   in   a  fury. 

"  Mr.  Ferguson,"  said  Tom,  in  a  low  voice, 
**I  wouldn't  provoke  him   if  I  were  you." 

But  the  Scotchman  was  no  coward,  and,  though 
generally  prudent,  he  was  too  fond  of  argument 
to  j'ield   the  point. 

"  Of  course  you're  drunk,"  he  said,  calmly.  "  If 
you  will  reflect,  3'ou  show  all  the  signs  of  a  man 
that  has  taken  too  much  liquor.  Your  face  is 
flushed,   your   hand   is  unsteady,    and  — " 

He  was  interrupted  by  a  volley  of  execrations 
from  the  man  whom  he  was  coolly  describing,  and 
the  latter,  in  a  fit  of  fury,  struck  the  Scotchman 
in  the  face.  Had  the  blow  been  well-directed  it 
would,  for  the  time,  have  marred  the  small  share 
of  personal  beauty  with  which  nature  had  endowed 
Mr.  Ferguson ;  but  it  glanced  aside  and  just  struck 
him   on    his   prominent   cheek-bone. 

"A  ring!  a  ring!"  shouted  the  men  in  the 
corner,  jumping  to  their  feet  in  excitement.  "  Let 
Jim   and   the   Scotchman    fight   it   out." 

"  Gentlemen,"  said  Mr.  Ferguson,  "  I  don't  wish 


Tom's  trip  across  the  plains.  181 

to  fight  with  your  friend.  He  is  drunk,  &a  you 
can  see  plainly  enough.  I  don't  wish  to  fight  with 
a   drunken   man." 

"Who  says  I  am  drunk?"  demanded  the  cham- 
pion  of  whiskey.     "  Let    me   get  at   him." 

But  his  friends  were  now  holding  him  back. 
They  wanted  to  see  a  square  fight,  according  to 
rule.  It  would  prove,  in  their  opinion,  a  pleasant 
little   excitement. 

"  I  meant  no  offence,"  said  Ferguson ;  "I  only 
told  the  truth." 

"You    are    a   liar!"   exclaimed    the    man, 

known    as   Jim. 

"I  do  not  heed  the  words  of  a  man  in  your 
condition,"   said   the   Scotchman,    calmly. 

"  Pull  his  nose,  Jim !  Make  him  fight ! "  ex- 
claimed the  friends  of  the  bully.     "  We'll  back  you  ! " 

The  hint  was  taken.  Jim  staggered  forward, 
and,  seizing  the  Scotchman's  prominent  nose,  gave 
it    a  violent  tweak. 

Now  there  are  few  men,  with  or  without  self- 
respect,  who  can  calmly  submit  to  an  insult  like 
this.     Certainly  Mr.  Donald    Ferguson  was  not  one 


182  THE    YOUNG    ADVENTURER,    OS, 

of  them.  The  color  mantled  his  high  cheek-bones, 
and  anger  gained  dominion  over  him.  He  sprang 
to  his  feet,  grasped  the  bully  in  his  strong  arms, 
dashed  him  backwards  upon  the  floor  of  the  bar- 
room, and,  turning  to  the  companions  of  the  fallen 
man,  he  said,  "  Now  come  on,  if  you  want  to 
fight.  I'll  take  you  one  by  one,  and  fight  the 
whole   of   you,    if  j'ou   like." 

Instead  of  being  angry,  they  applauded  his  pluck. 
They  cared  little  for  the  fate  of  their  champion, 
but  were  impressed  by  the  evident  strength  of 
the   stranger. 

"  Stranger,"  said  one  of  them,  "  you've  proved 
that  you're  a  man  of  honor.  We  thought  you 
were  a  coward.  It's  a  pity  you  don't  drink.  What 
may  your   name   be  ?  " 

"Donald   Ferguson." 

"  Then,  boys,  here's  to  the  health  of  Mr.  Fer- 
guson.    He's   a  bully  boy,   and   no  coward." 

"  Gentlemen,"  said  the  Scotchman,  "  it's  a  com- 
pliment you  mean,  no  doubt,  and  I'm  suitably 
thankful.  If  you'll  allow  me,  I'll  drink  your  health 
in   a   liquor   which  will    not    injure   any   one.      I'll 


TOlts    TRIP  ACROSS    THE   PLAINS.  183 

wish  you  health  and  prosperity  in  a  glass  of  cold 
water,  if  the  barkeeper  happens  to  have  any  of 
that  beverage  handy.  Tom,  join  with  me  in  the 
toast." 

Tom   did   so,  and   the   speech  was  well   received. 

"  As  for  this  gentleman,"  said  Mr.  Ferguson 
addressing  Jim,  who  had  struggled  to  his  feet, 
and  was  surveying  the  scene  in  rather  a  bewildered 
way,  "I  hope  he  won't  harbor  malice;  I've  only 
got  even  with  him.  We  may  as  well  forgive  and 
forget." 

"That's  the  talk!  Jim,  drink  the  stranger's 
health ! " 

Jim  looked  a  little  doubtful,  but  when  a  glass 
of  whiskey  was  put  into  his  hand  he  could  not 
resist  the   seductive  draught,   and  tossed  it  down. 

•'Now   shake   hands!"   said   one   of  the  players. 

"With  all  my  heart,"  said  Ferguson;  and  the 
two  shook  hands,  to  the  great  delight  of  the 
company. 

"You  got  off  pretty  well,  Mr.  Ferguson,"  said 
Tom,    when   they   retired   for  the   night. 

"  Yes,     my     lad,     better    than    I     expected.      I 


184  THE    YOUNQ   ADVENTURER;    0.R, 

thought  once  I  would  have  to  fight  the  whole 
pack.  Poor  fellows !  I  pity  them.  They  are  but 
slaves  to  their  appetites.  I  hope,  my  lad,  you'll 
never    yield   to   a   like   temptation." 

"  No  fear  for  me,  Mr.  Ferguson.  I  feel  as  you 
do   on   the    subject." 

The  journey  continued  till  one  day,  about  noon, 
they  reached  the  town  of  St.  Joseph,  popularly 
called   St.   Joe. 


Tom's  trip  across  the  plains.  185 


CHAPTER    XX. 


ST.    JOE. 


St.  Joe  was  at  that  time  the  fitting-out  point 
for  overland  parties  bound  for  California.  As  a 
matter  of  course  it  presented  a  busy,  bustling 
appearance,  and  seemed  full  of  life  and  movement. 
There  was  a  large  transient  population,  of  a  very 
miscellaneous  character.  It  included  the  thrifty, 
industrious  emigrant,  prepared  to  work  hard  and 
live  poorty,  till  the  hoped-for  competence  was 
attained  ;  but  there  was  also  the  shiftless  adventurer, 
whose  chief  object  was  to  live  without  work,  and 
the  unscrupulous  swindler,  who  was  ready,  if  oppor- 
tunity offered,  to  appropriate  the  hard  earnings 
of  others. 

"  It's   a   lively   place,  Mr.  Ferguson,"  said  Tom. 

"It  is,  indeed,  my  young  friend,"  said  the  cau- 
tious  Scot ;    "  but   it   is   a   place,    to    my    thinking, 


186  THE    YOUNQ  ADVENTURER;    OK, 

where  it  behooves  a  man  to  look  well  to  hia 
purse." 

"  No  doubt  you  are  right,  Mr.  Ferguson.  I  have 
learned  to  be  cautious  since  my  adventure  with 
Graham  and  Vincent." 

"  There's  many  like  them  in  the  world,  Tom. 
They  are  like  lions,  going  about  seeking  whom 
they  may  devour." 

St.  Joseph  could  not  at  that  time  boast  any  first- 
class  hotels.  Inns  and  lodging-houses  it  had  in 
plenty.  At  one  of  these  —  a  two-story  building, 
dignified  by  the  title  of  "The  Pacific  Hotel"  — 
our  hero  and  his  Scotch  friend  found  accommo- 
dations. They  were  charged  two  dollars  and  a  half 
per  day,  —  the  same  price  they  charged  at  first-class 
hotels  in  New  York  and  Boston,  while  their  rooms 
and  fare  were  very  far  from  luxurious.  The 
landlord  was  a  stout,  jolly  host,  with  a  round, 
good-natured  face. 

"  You  and  your  son  will  room  together,  I  sup- 
pose," he    said. 

"  He  isn't  my  son,  but  a  young  friei.d  of  mine," 
said   Mr.   Ferguson. 


TOM'S    TRIP  ACROSS    THE   PLAINS.  187 

"  I  thought  he  didn't  look  much  like  you,"  said 
the   landlord. 

"I  am  hard  and  weather-beaten,  while  he  is 
young   and   fresh." 

"Well,  gentlemen,  I  wish  you  both  good-luck. 
What  will  you  take?  I  have  a  superior  article 
of  whiskey  that    I   can   recommend." 

"Thank  you,  but  I  beg  you  will  excuse  me, 
sir,"   said   Ferguson.     "  I   never   drink." 

"Nor  I,"  said  Tom;  "but  I  am  much  obliged 
to  you   all   the   same." 

"Well,  that  beats  me,"  said  the  landlord. 
"Why,  you  don't  know  what's  good.  You  aint 
a  minister,    are  you?"   turning  to   Ferguson. 

"I  have  not  that  high  distinction,  my  friend. 
I  am  an  unworthy  member  of  the  church  of  Scot- 
land." 

"  I  don't  think  your  countrymen  generally  refuse 
whiskey." 

"  So  much  the  worse  for  them.  They  are  only 
too  fond  of  it.  My  own  brother  died  a  miserable 
death,   brought   on   by   his   love   of  liquor." 

"  Then  I  won't  press  you ;   but   I  say,  strangers, 


188  THE    YOUNQ   ADVENTURER;    0£, 

you    won't    find    man}'   of    your    way   of    thinking 
in  the   country   you're   going    to." 

"I  doubt  he's  right,  Tom,"  said  Ferguson  to 
Tom,  a9  they  entered  the  chamber  assigned  to 
them.  "  We  may  not  be  together  always.  I  hope 
you  won't  be  led  away  by  them  that  offer  you 
strong  drink.     It  would  be  the  ruin  of  you,  boy." 

"  Don't  fear  for  me,  Mr.  Ferguson.  I  have  no 
taste    for   it." 

"  Sometimes   it's   hard   to   refuse." 
"  It   won't   be   hard    for   me." 
"I    am   glad    to   hear    you    say    that,   my   lad. 
You    are    young,   strong,    and    industrious.     You'll 
succeed,    I'll    warrant,    if   you   steer  clear   of    that 
quicksand." 

Later  in  the  day  the  two  friends  began  to  make 
inquiries  about  overland  travel.  They  had  no  wish 
to  remain  long  at  St.  Joe.  Both  were  impatient 
to  reach  the  land  of  gold,  aud  neither  cared  to 
incur  the  expense  of  living  at  the  hotel  any 
longer  than  was  absolutely  necessary.  Luckily 
this  prolably  would  not  be  long,  for  nearly  every 
day    a   caravan   set   out   on    the    long  journey,   and 


TOUtS    TRIP   ACROSS    THE   PLAINS.  189 

doubtless  they  would  be  able  to  join  on  agreeing 
to  pay  their  share  of  the  expenses.  It  was  a 
great  undertaking,  for  the  distance  to  be  traversed 
was  over  two  thousand  miles,  through  an  unset- 
tled country,  some  of  it  a  desert,  with  the  chances 
of  an  attack  by  hostile  Indians,  and  the  certainty 
of  weeks,  and  perhaps  months,  of  privation  and 
fatigue.  Mr.  Donald  Ferguson  looked  forward  to 
it  with  some  apprehension  ;  for,  with  characteristic 
Scotch  caution,  he  counted  the  cost  of  whatever 
he  undertook,  and  not  did  fail  to  set  before  his  mind 
all   the  contingencies    and    dangers   attending   it. 

"It's  a  long  journey  we're  going  on,  my  lad,', 
he  said,  "  and  we  may  not  reach  the  end  of  it 
in   safet}-." 

"  It  isn't  best  to  worry  about  that,  Mr.  Fer- 
guson,"  said  Tom,    cheerfully. 

"  You  are  right,  my  lad.  It's  not  for  the  best 
to  worry,  but  it  is  well  to  make  provision  for 
what  may  happen.  Now,  if  anything  happens  to 
me,   I   am   minded   to   make   you  my    executor." 

"  But  don't  you  think  I  am  too  young,  Mr 
Ferguson  ? " 


190  the  young  adventurer;  or, 

"You  are  o'er  young,  I  grant,  but  you  are 
a  lad  of  good  parts,  temperate,  steady,  and  honest. 
I   have  no   other  friend  I   feel   like  trusting." 

"I  hope,  Mr.  Ferguson,  there  will  be  no  occa- 
sion to  render  you  any  such  service,  but  whatever 
I  can   I   will   do." 

"It  will  be  very  simple.  You  will  take  my 
money,  and  see  that  it  is  sent  to  my  mother,  in 
Glasgow.  I  will  give  you  her  address  now,  and 
then,  if  any  sudden  fate  overtakes  me,  there  will 
be   no  trouble.     You   will  know  just  what   to  do." 

Tom  was  flattered  by  this  mark  of  confidence. 
It  was  evident  that  the  cautious  Scotchman  had 
formed  a  very  favorable  opinion  of  him,  or  be 
would  not  have  selected  so  young  a  boy  for  so 
important   a  trust. 

"Will  you  do  the  same  for  me,  Mr.  Ferguson?" 
he  asked,  with  the  sudden  reflection  that,  young 
as  he  was,  there  was  no  absolute  certainty  of 
his    living   to   reach   California. 

"  Surely  I  will,    my  lad." 

"If  I  should  die  I  should  want  any  money 
I  might  have   left   sent   to   my   father." 


TOM'S    TRIP  ACROSS    THE   PLAINS.  191 

"Give  me  his  address,  my  lad,  and  it  shall 
be  done.  It  is  a  good  precaution,  and  we  shan't 
either  of  us  die  the  sooner  for  doing  our  duty, 
to  the  best  of  our  ability,  by  those  who  would 
mourn  our  loss." 

Tom    and    his     friend    instituted    inquiries,   and 
ascertained  that  two  days   later  a  caravan  was  to 
start  on   its   way  across   the   continent.      They   as- 
certained,  also,   that    the  leader  of  the  expedition 
was  a   pioneer  named    Fletcher,   who  was   making, 
his    home    at    the    California    Hotel.      They  made 
their   way    thither,   and   were    fortunate   enough   to 
find    Mr.     Fletcher    at    home.     He    was    a    stout, 
broad-shouldered  man,  a  practical  farmer,  who  was 
emigrating  from   Illinois.     Unlike  the    majority  of 
emigrants,   he    had    his    family   with    him,    namely, 
a  wife,   and    four    children,   the    oldest  a    boy  of 
twelve. 

"My  friend,"  said  Ferguson,  "I  hear  that  you 
are  soon  leaving  here  with   a  party  for  California." 

"I  leave  day  after  to  morrow,"  answered 
Fletcher. 

"Is    your  party   wholly   made   up?" 


192  the  rouNQ  adventurer;  on, 

"We  are  about  full;  but  we  might  receive  one 
or   two   more." 

4 '  My  young  friend  and  I  wish  to  join  some 
good  party,  as  we  cannot  afford  to  remain  here, 
and  we  are  anxious  to  get  to  work  as  soon  aa 
possible." 

Some  care  needed  to  be  exercised  in  the  choice 
of  a  party,  as  there  were  some  who  would  only 
give  trouble  and  annoyance,  or  perhaps  fail  to 
pay  tneir  proper  share  of  the  expenses.  But  Fer- 
guson's appearance  was  sufficient  guarantee  of  his 
reliability,  and  no  one  was  likely  to  object  to 
Tom. 

"Of  course,"  added  Ferguson,  "we  are  ready  tc 
bear  our   share   of   the   expense." 

"  Then  you  can  come,"  said  Fletcher.  "  You 
will  both  need  revolvers,  for  we  may  be  attacked 
by  Indians,  and  must  be  able  to  defend  ourselves." 

"  Certainly,    we   will   do   our   part,    if  need   be." 

This  was  an  expense  which  Tom  had  not  foie- 
ieen ;  but  he  at  once  saw  the  importance  of  being 
urmed  when  crossing  such  a  country  as  lay  before 
hem,  and  went  with   Ferguson   to   make   the  need 


TOM'S    TRIP   ACROSS    THE    PLAINS.  193 

ftil  purchase.  His  Scotch  friend  instructed  him  in 
the  method  of  using  his  new  weapon,  and  Tom 
felt  a  boy's  natural  pride  in  his  new  acquisition. 
He  felt  years  older  than  he  did  on  the  morning 
when  he  left  his  country  home.  He  had  gained 
some  knowledge  of  the  world,  and  felt  a  greater 
confidence  in  himself  on  that  account.  He  looked 
forward  to  the  remainder  of  his  journey  with 
pleasurable  excitement,  and  lost  no  time  in  making 
the  necessary  preparations. 
IS 


194  THE    YOUNG   ADVENTURER;    OM, 


CHAPTER    XXI. 

HOW  THINGS    WENT   ON   AT   HOKE. 

While  Tom  was  slowly  making  his  way  west- 
ward, there  was  one  place  where  tidings  from 
him  were  anxiously  awaited,  and  where  nightly 
prayers  were  offered  for  his  health  and  safe  prog- 
ress. Of  course  this  was  the  dear,  though  humble, 
farm-house,    which   had  been  his   home. 

Twice  a  week  Tom  wrote,  and  his  letters  were 
cheerful   and   reassuring. 

Don't  trouble  yourself  about  me,  dear  mother,  (he 
wrote  from  Cincinnati.)  I  am  making  friends,  and  learning 
how  to  travel.  I  feel  years  older,  and  rely  much 
more  on  myself  than  when,  an  inexperienced  boy,  I  bade 
you  good-by.  I  am  a  thousand  miles  from  you,  and  the 
longest  and  most  difficult  part  of  the  journey  lies  before 
me;  but  with  health,  and  strength,  and  prudence,  I  hope 
to  arrive  in  good  condition  at  my  destination.  As  to  health 
I  never  felt  better  in  my  life,    and  I   hare  taken  lessons 


T03T8   TRIP  ACROSS    THE    PLAINS.  195 

in  prudence  and  caution  which  will  be  of  essential  ser- 
vice to  me.  I  hare  found  that  a  boy  who  goes  out  into 
the  world  to  seek  his  fortune  cannot  trust  everybody  he 
falls  in  with.  He  will  find  foes  as  well  as  friends,  and 
he  will  need*  to  be  on  his  guard. 

I  start  to-morrow  for  St.  Joseph,  in  Missouri,  going 
by  way  of  St.  Louis.  Mr.  Donald  Ferguson,  a  middle- 
aged  Scotchman,  is  my  companion.  A  younger  and  livelier 
companion  might  prove  more  agreeable,  but  perhaps  not 
so  safe.  Mr.  Ferguson  is  old  enough  to  be  my  father, 
and  I  shall  be  guided  by  his  judgment  where  my  own  is 
at  fault.  He  is  very  frugal,  as  I  believe  his  countrymen 
generally  are,  and  that,  of  course,  just  suits  me.  I  don't  know 
how  long  I  shall  be  in  reaching  St.  Joseph,  but  I  shall  write 
you  once  or  twice  on  the  way.  Give  my  love  to  father, 
Sarah,  Walter,  and  Harry,  and  keep  a  great  deal  for 
yourself. 

Tour  loving  son, 

Tom. 

"Tom  is  growing  manly,  Mary,"  said  Mark 
Nelson  to  his  wife.  "It's  doing  him  good  to 
see  a    little  of  the  world." 

"I  suppose  it  is,  Mark,"  said  his  wife;  but 
the  more  I  think  of  it    the    more  I  feel  that  he 


196  THE    TOUNQ   ADVENTURER;    OA, 

is  very    young  to  undertake  such  a   long   journey 
alone." 

"  He    is    young,    but    it    will    make    a    man    of 
him." 

"  He  must  be  having  a  tip-top  time,"  said 
Walter;   "I   wish   I   were  with  him." 

"You  would  be  more  of  a  hindrance  than  a 
help  to  him,    Walter,"   said   Mark   Nelson. 

"  You  are  only  a  child,  you  know,"  said 
Sarah,  in  an   elder-sister   tone. 

"What  do  you  call  yourself?"  retorted  Walter. 
"  You   are  only   two  }Tears  older  than    I   am." 

"  Girls  always  know  more  than  boys  of  the 
same  age,"  said  Sarah,  condescendingly.  "  Besides, 
I  haven't  said  anything  about  going  out  to  Cali- 
fornia." 

"  No,  I  should  think  not.  A  girl  that's  afraid 
of  a   mouse  had   better   stay   at  home." 

Walter  referred  to  an  incident  of  the  day  pre- 
vious, when  the  sudden  appearance  of  a  mouse 
threw   Sarah   into   a   panic. 

"Are  there  any  mouses  in  California?''  asked 
little   Harr)T,      with    interest. 


TOM'S    TRIP  ACROSS    THE   PLAINS.  197 

"  If  there  are  I  could  carry  a  cat  with  me," 
returned    Sarah,  good-humoredly. 

Mark  Nelson^  though  he  felt  Tom  was  a  boy 
to  be  trusted,  did  ask  himself  occasionally 
whether  be  had  been  wise  in  permitting  him  to 
leave  home  under  the  circumstances.  Suppose  he 
continued  in  health,  there  were  doubts  of  his  suc- 
cess. His  golden  dreams  might  not  be  realized. 
The  two  hundred  dollars  which  he  had  raised 
for  Tom  might  be  lost,  and  bring  in  no  return ; 
and  this  would  prove  a  serious  loss  to  Mark, 
hampered  as  he  was  already  by  a  heavy  mort- 
gage on  his  farm.  Would  Squire  Hudson  be 
forbearing,  if  ill  luck  came?  This  was  a  ques- 
tion he  could  not  answer.  He  only  knew  that 
such   was   not  the   squire's   reputation. 

"  Well,  Mr.  Nelson,  what  do  you  hear  from 
Tom,"  asked  the  squire,  one  day  about  this 
time.     "  How   far   is   he   on   his  way?" 

"  We  received  a  letter  from  Cincinnati  yester- 
day. He  then  was  about  starting  for  St.  Jo- 
seph." 

"Does   he   seem   to  enjoy    the  journey?" 


198  THE    YOUNG   ADVENTURER;    OJl, 

"He  writes  in  excellent  spirits.  He  says  h« 
has  met  with  good  friends." 

" Indeed  1   How  does  his  money  hold  out?" 

"  He  does  not  speak  of  that." 

"Oh,  well,  I  dare  say  he  is  getting  along 
well ; "   and  the  squire   walked  on. 

"Does  he  feel  interested  in  Tom,  or  not?" 
queried  Mark  Nelson,  as  he  looked  thoughtfully 
after  the  squire,  as  he  walked  on  with  stately 
steps,  leaning  slightly  on  his  gold-headed  cane. 
He  might  have  been  enlightened  on  this  point, 
if  he  could  have  heard  a  conversation,  later  in 
the  day,  between  Squire  Hudson  and  his  son 
Sinclair. 

"  I  saw  Mark  Nelson  this  morning,"  he  ob- 
served  at  the   supper    table. 

"Has   he   heard  from   Tom?" 

"  Yes ;  his  son  wrote   him  from   Cincinnati." 

"  I  wish  I  could  go  to  Cincinnati,"  grumbled 
Sinclair;  "I  think  I  have  a  better  right  to  see 
the   world   than  Tom   Nelson." 

"  All  in  good  time,  my  son.  Tom  is  not 
travelling  for   pleasure." 


Tom's  trip  across  the  plains.  199 

"Still,  he   is   getting   the  pleasure." 

"  He  will  have  to  work  hard  when  he  reaches 
California.  Probably  he  won't  have  a  cent  left 
when  he  gets  there." 

"What  will  he  do  then?" 

"He  must  earn  money." 

"Do  you  think   he   will   do  well,   father?" 

' '  He  may,  and  then  again  he  may  not,"  an- 
swered the   stfuire,  judicially. 

"If  he  don't,  how  is  he  going  to  pay  you 
back  the   money  you   lent  him  ? " 

"I  always  thought  your  father  was  foolish  to 
lend  Lis  money  to  a  boy  like  that,"  said  Mrs. 
Hudson,  querulously. 

"  Women  know  nothing  about  business,"  said 
the   squire,  with   an    air  of  superior   wisdom. 

"  Sometimes  men  don't  know  much,"  retorted  his 
wife. 

"  If  you  refer  to  me,  Mrs.  Hudson,"  said  her 
husband,  "  you  need  have  no  anxiety.  I  did  not 
lend  the  money  to  the  boy,  but  to  his   father." 

"That  isn't  much  better.  Everybody  knows 
that    Mark  Nelson    has    all    that    he     can    do   to 


200  THE    YOUNQ   ADVENTURER;    OR. 

get  along.  His  wife  hasn't  had  a  new  dress 
for   years." 

The  squire's  face  grew  hard  and  stern.  He 
had  never  loved  his  wife,  and  never  forgiven 
Mrs.  Nelson,  whom  he  had  loved  as  much  as 
he    was    capable   of  doing,    for    refusing    his    hand. 

"  She  has  made  her  bed  and  she  must  lie 
upon  it,"  he  said,  curtly.  "  She  might  have 
known  that  Mark  Nelson  would  never  be  able  to 
provide   for   her." 

tk  Perhaps  she  never  had  any  other  offer," 
eaid  Mrs.  Hudson,  who  was  ignorant  of  a 
certain    passage   of  her  husband's   life. 

"  Probably  she  did,  for  she  was  a  very  pretty 
girl." 

"Then  she's  faded,"  said  Mrs.  Hudson,  toss- 
ing  her   head. 

Squire  Hudson  did  not  reply ;  but  as  his  eyes 
rested  on  the  sharp,  querulous  face  of  his  help- 
mate, and  he  compared  it  mentally  with  the  pleasant 
face  of  Mrs.  Nelson,  he  said  to  himself  that, 
faded  or  not,  the  latter  was  still  better-look- 
ing than   his   wife    had    been    in    the   days  of  her 


TOM'S    TRIP   ACROSS    THE    PLAINS  201 

youth.  Of  course  it  would  not  do  to  say  so, 
for   Mrs.    Hudson    was    not   amiable. 

"  Mark  Nelson  has  given  ine  security,"  said 
the  squire,  returning  to  the  point  under  discus- 
sion. "  I  hold  a  mortgage  on  his  farm  for  the 
whole   amount    he  owes   me." 

"  Do  you  think  you  shall  have  to  foreclose, 
father?"    asked    Sinclair. 

"  If  Tom  does  not  succeed  in  California,  I 
probably    shall,"   said   the   squire. 

"Do   you    think    he    will    succeed?" 

"He  may  be  able  to  make  a  living;  but  I 
don't  think   he  will  be  able  to  help  his  father  any." 

"Then    why    did   you    lend    him    the    money?" 

**  He  wanted  to  go,  and  was  willing  to  take 
the  risk.     1  lent  the  money  as  a  business  operation." 

"  Suppose  Mr.  Nelson  loses  his  farm,  what  will 
he   do?"   inquired    Sinclair. 

"  I  really  don't  know,"  answered  the  squire, 
shrugging  his  shoulders.  "That  is  no  concern  of 
mine." 

"Tom  wouldn't  put  on  so  many  airs  if  his  father 
had  to  go    to  the  poor-house."  said   Sinclair. 


202  THE    YOUNG    ADVENTURER;    OB, 

"Does  he  put  on  airs?" 

"  He  seems  to  think  he  is  as  good  as  I  am," 
said   Squire's  Hudson's   heir. 

"That  is  perfectly  ridiculous,"  said  Mrs.  Hud- 
son.    "  The  boy  must  be  a  fool." 

"He  is  no  fool,"  said  the  squire,  who  did  not 
allow  prejudice  to  carry  him  so  far  as  his  wife 
and  son.  "  He  is  a  boy  of  very  fair  abilities ; 
but  I  apprehend  he  will  find  it  harder  to  make 
his  fortune  than  he  anticipated.  However,  time 
will   show." 

"  Most  likely  he'll  come  home  in  rags,  and  grow 
up  a  day-laborer,"  said  Sinclair,  complacently. 
"When  I'm  a  rich  man  I'll  give  him  work.  He 
won't   feel   like   putting   on   airs,    then." 

"What  a  good  heart  Sinclair  has!"  said  Mrs. 
Hudson,    admiringly. 

Squire  Hudson  said  nothing.  Possibly  the  good- 
ness of  his  son's  heart  was  not  so  manifest  to 
him. 


TOM'S    TRIP  ACROSS    TBS   FLAWS.  208 


CHAPTER    XXn. 

THE   TOUNO   MAN   FROM    BOSTON. 

Soon  after  leaving  St.  Joe,  the  emigrant  train 
which  Tom  had  joined  entered  the  territory  of 
Kansas.  At  that  early  day  the  settlement  of  this 
now  prosperous  State  had  scarcely  begun.  Its 
rich  soil  was  as  yet  unvexed  by  the  plough  and 
the  spade,  and  the  tall  prairie  grass  and  virgin 
forest  stretched  for  many  and  many  a  mile  west- 
ward in  undisturbed   loneliness. 

One  afternoon,  towards  the  setting  of  the  sun, 
the  caravan  halted  on  the  site  of  the  present 
capital  of  the  State,  Topeka.  The  patient  oxen, 
wearied  with  the  twenty  mile8  they  had  travelled, 
were  permitted  to  graze.  The  ten  baggage  wagons  — 
or  "  ships  of  the  plain,"  as  they  were  sometimes 
called  —  came  to  anchor  in  a  sea  of  verdure.  They 
were  ranged  in  a  circle,  the  interior  space  being 
occupied  as  a  camping-ground.     Then  began  prepa- 


204  THE    YOUNQ   ADVENTURER;    OR, 

rations  foi  supper.  Some  of  the  party  were  sent 
for  water.  A  fire  was  built,  and  the  travellers, 
with  a  luxurious  enjoyment  of  rest,  sank  upon 
the   grass. 

Donald  Ferguson  looked  thoughtfully  over  the 
fast  expanse  of  unsettled  prairie,  and  said  to 
Tom,  "  It's  a  great  country,  Tom.  There  seems 
no  end   to   it." 

"That's  the  way  I  felt  when  I  was  plodding 
along  to-day  through  the  mud,"  said  Tom,  laugh- 
ing. 

"  It's  because  the  soil  is  so  rich,"  said  the 
Scotchman.  kt  It'll  be  a  great  farming  country 
some   day,    I'm   thinking." 

"  I  suppose  the  soil  isn't  so  rich  in  Scotland, 
Mr.    Ferguson  ? " 

"No,  my  lad.  It's  rocky  and  barren,  and  cov- 
ered with  dry  heather ;  but  it  produces  rare  men, 
for  all   that." 

Mr.  Ferguson  was  patriotic  to  the  backbone. 
He  would  nut  claim  for  Scotland  what  she  could 
not  fairly  claim ;  but  he  was  all  ready  with  some 
compensating   claim. 


Ten's    TRIP  ACROSS    THE   PLAINS.  205 

"How  do  you  stand  the  walking,  Mr.  Ferguson?" 

"  I'm   getting  used   to   it." 

"  Then  it's  more  than  I  am.     I  think  it's  beastly." 

These  words  were  not  uttered  by  Tom,  but  by 
rather  a  dandified-looking  young  man,  who  came 
up  limping.  He  was  from  Boston,  and  gave  his 
name  as  Lawrence  Peabod}7.  He  had  always  lived 
in  Boston,  where  he  had  been  employed  in  vari- 
ous genteel  avocations ;  but  in  an  evil  hour  he 
had  been  lured  from  his  comfortable  home  by 
the  seductive  cry  of  gold,  and,  laying  down  his 
yardstick,  had  set  out  for  California  across  the 
plains.  He  was  a  slender  young  man,  with  limbs 
better  fitted  for  dancing  than  for  tramping  across 
the  prairie,  and  he  felt  bitterly  the  fatigue  of  the 
journey. 

"Are  you  tired,  Mr.    Peabody?"   asked  Tom. 

"  I  am  just  about  dead.  I  didn't  bargain  for 
walking  all  the  way  across  the  prairies.  Why 
cor   In't  old   Fletcher   let  me   ride?" 

The   oxen  have   had   all   they   could   do   to-day 
ttf    draw  the   wagons   through   the   mud." 

*  Look    at    those    boots."    said    the    Boa  to  ni  an, 


206  THE    YOUNG   ADVENTURER;    Ort, 

ruefully,  pointing  to  a  pair  of  light  calf-skin 
boots,  which  were  so  overlaid  with  mud  that  it 
was  hard  to  tell  what  was  their  original  color. 
"I  bought  those  boots  in  Boston  only  two  weeks 
ago.  Everybody  called  them  stylish.  Now  they 
are   absolutely   disreputable." 

"  It  seems  to  me,  my  friend,"  said  the  Scotch- 
man, "that  you  did  not  show  much  sagacity  in 
selecting  such  boots  for  your  journey.  My  young 
friend,   Tom,    is   much   better  provided." 

"His  boots  are  cowhide,"  said  Mr.  Lawrence 
Peabody,  disdainfully.  "  Do  you  think  I  would 
wear  cowhide  boots  ?  " 

'•You  would  find  them  more  serviceable,  Mr. 
Peabody,"  said  Tom.  "  Besides,  I  don't  believe 
anybody   could   tell  the  difference   now." 

"How  much  did  you  pay  for  them?"  asked 
the  Bostonian. 

"A  dollar  and  a  half." 

"  Humph !  I  thought  so,"  returned  Peabody, 
contemptuously.  "  We  don't  wear  cowhide  boot* 
in  Boston." 

"  You   are   not   in   Boston    now." 


TOMS   TRIP  ACROSS    THE   PLAINS.  207 

"  I  wish  I  was,"  said  Peabody,  energetically. 
"I  wouldn't  have  started  if  I  had  known  what 
was  before  me.  I  expected  to  travel  like  a 
gentleman,  instead  of  wading  through  this  cursed 
mud  till  I'm  ready  to  drop.  Look  at  my  panta- 
loons, all  splashed  with  mire.  What  would  my 
friends  say  if  I  should  appear  in  this  rig  on 
Washington  street?" 

"They  might  take  you  for  a  bog-trotter,"  said 
Tom,    smiling. 

"I  have  always  been  particular  about  my  ap- 
pearance," said  Peabody,  plaintively.  "  <  He  looks 
just  as  if  he'd  come  out  of  a  bandbox,'  some  of 
my  lady  friends  used  to  say.  How  do  I  look 
now  ?  " 

"Like  a  dirty-handed  son  of  toil,"  said  Tom, 
humorously. 

"So  do  you,"  retorted  Peabody,  who  felt  that 
this   was   uncomplimentary. 

"I  admit  it,"  said  Tom;  "and  that's  just  what 
I  expect  to  be.  You  don't  expect  to  dig  gold 
with  kid  gloves  on,   do  you,  Mr.   Peabody?  * 

"  I  wish  I  had    brought    some  with    me,"  said 


*08  THE    young  adventurer;  or, 

the  Bostoman,  seriouslj'.  "  It  would  have  saved 
my    hands    looking   so   dingy." 

44  How  came  you  to*  start  for  California,  my 
friend?"    inquired   Ferguson. 

"The  fact  is,"  said  Peabody,  "I  am  not  rich. 
There  are  members  of  our  famity  who  are  wealthy ; 
but  1  am  not  one  of  the  lucky  number." 

44  You  were  making  a  living  at  home,  were  you 
not?" 

"Yes;  but  my  income  was  only  enough  for 
m3"self." 

44  I   su|)|>ose  you  were   in  love,  then,"  said   Tom. 

44  I  don't  mind  sa}"ing  that  I  was ;  confiden- 
tially, of  course,"  said  Mr.  Peabody,  compla- 
cently. 

44  Was    your   love   returned?" 

44  1  may  say  it  was.  The  young  lady  was  the 
daughter  of  a  merchant  prince.  I  saw  that  she 
loved  me,  hut  her  father  would  not  consent  to 
oui  union,  on  account  of  my  limited  means.  I 
read  in  the  'Transcript'  of  the  gold  discoveries  in 
California.  I  determined  to  go  out  there,  and 
try     m\      fortune.      If    I     am     successful    I    will    go 


Tom's  trip  across  the  plaiss.  209 

home,  and,  with  a  bag  of  gold  in  each  hand, 
demand  the  hand  of  Matilda  from  her  haughty 
sire.  When  he  asks  me  for  my  credentials,  I 
will  point  to  the  gold,  and  say,  '  Behold  them 
here ! ' " 

"  If  both  3rour  hands  are  full  I  don't  see  how 
you  can  point  to  the  bags  of  gold,"  saia  Tom, 
who   liked    to   tease   the   young   Bostonian. 

"There  are  a  great  many  things  you  don't 
understand,"   said   Mr.    Peabody,    irritably. 

"  He  is  right,  Tom,"  said  Ferguson,  with  a 
quiet   smile. 

"  If  you  are  both  against  me,  I  will  give  it 
up,"  said  Tom.  "  All  I  can  say  is,  I  hope  you'll 
get  the  two  bags  of  gold,  Mr.  Peabody,  and  that 
you'll  get  the  young  lady  too." 

Here  Fletcher  came  up,  and  called  upon  Tom 
to  assist  in  preparations  for  supper.  Our  hero 
readily  complied  with  the  request.  Indeed,  he 
always  showed  himself  so  obliging  that  he  won 
the   favorable   regards   of  all. 

Mr.  Peabody  continued  the  conversation  with 
Mr.    Ferguson. 


210  THE    YOUNG  ADVENTURER /    OR, 

"  Do  you  think  there's  as  much  gold  in  Cali* 
fornia  as  people  say?"  he  asked. 

"No,"   answered  the  Scotchman. 

"  You  don't? "  ejaculated  the  Bostonian,  in  dismay. 

"  No ;  people  always  magnify  when  they  talk 
of  a  new  country.  Now,  my  friend,  how  much 
do  you  expect  to  get  in  the  first  year?" 

"  Well,  about  fifty  thousand  dollars,"  answered 
Peabody. 

"  And  how  much  were  you  earning  in  Boston, 
—  a   thousand   dollars  ?  " 

4 '  About  that,"  answered  Peabody,  vaguely.  "In 
fact,  he  had  been  working  on  a  salary  of  twelve 
dollars  a  week,  in  a  retail  dry  goods  store  on 
Washington   street." 

"Then  you  expect  to  make  fifty  times  as  much 
as   at    home  ? " 

"Don't  you   think  I  will?" 

"  I  have  never  had  such  large  expectations 
If  I  make  three  or  four  thousand  dollars  in 
twelve   months   it  will   satisfy  me." 

"  But  a  man  would  never  get  rich,  at  that  rate," 
said  Lawrence  Peabody,  uneasily. 


TOM'S    TRIP  ACROSS    1  HE   PLAINS.  211 

41 1  don't  know  about  that.  It  depends  as  much 
on  what  a  man  does  with  his  money,  as  on  the 
amount  he   makes,"   said   the   prudent   Scot, 

"I  am  afraid  I  did  wrong  in  leaving  Boston,'' 
■aid  Peabody, gloomily.  "If  I  am  to  travel  many 
weeks  through  the  mud,  and  get  no  more  than 
that,    I  shall  feel   that   I   am  poorly    paid." 

"You  don't  feel  like  my  young  friend  Tom. 
He   is   full  of   hope,    and   enjoys   everything." 

"  He  hasn't  been  brought  up  as  I  have,"  said 
Peabody.  "  A  country  boy  in  cowhide  boots  is 
tough,    and   don't   mind  roughing   it." 

Ferguson  did  not  have  a  chance  to  answer,  for 
there  was  a  summons  to  supper,—  a  welcome  call, 
that  made  even  Mr.  Lawrence  Peabody  look  cheer- 
ful for  the  time  being. 


tit  THE    TOUNO   ADVENTURER ;    OM, 


CHAPTER  XXIII. 


MR.    PEABODYS   TROUBLES. 


When  the  party  camped  for  the  night  the  cus- 
tom was  to  arrange  the  baggage  wagons  in  a 
Bemi-circle,  and  provide  a  resting-place  for  the 
women  and  children  inside.  As  they  were  pass- 
ing through  a  country  occupied  by  Indians  it  was 
necessary  to  post  one  or  more  sentinels  to  keep 
watch  through  the  night,  and  give  notice  of  any 
who  might  be  seen  lurking  near  the  camp.  For- 
tunately, however,  an  Indian  attack  was  seldom 
made  at  night.  The  time  generally  selected  was 
in  the  morning,  when  the  party  were  preparing 
to  start  on  their  day's  march.  Tom,  as  a  boy, 
would  have  been  excused  taking  his  turn;  but 
this  did  not  suit  him.  He  requested,  as  a  favor, 
that   he  might   stand   watch    with  the   rest. 

"  Can     he     be     relied     upon?      Is     he     not    too 


TOAtS    TRIP  ACROSS    THE    PLAINS.  213 

young?"  asked  Fletcher,  the  leader,  of  Mr.  Fer- 
guson. 

"  You  can  depend  upon  him,"  said  the  Scotch- 
man, confidently.  "  There's  more  manliness  in 
Tom   than   in   many   men   of  twice   his   years." 

"  Then  I  will  put  his  name  on  the  list,"  said 
Fletcher. 

"  That's  right.     I'll    answer  for  him." 

But  there  was  one  of  the  travellers  who  was 
by  no  means  eager  to  stand  on  watch.  This  was 
Lawrence  Peabody,  the  young  man  from  Boston. 
He  sought  an  interview  with  Fletcher,  and  asked 
to  be   excused. 

"On  what  grounds,  Mr.  Peabody?"  asked 
Fletcher,  surprised. 

"It  doesn't  agree  with  me  to  lose  my  night's 
sleep,"  said  Peabody.  "  I  am  naturally  delicate, 
and  —  " 

"  Your  excuse  is  not  satisfactory,  Mr.  Pea- 
body. We  are  banded  together  in  a  little  com- 
munity, having  mutual  rights  and  mutual  obligations. 
In  the  arrangements  made  for  the  common  safety 
it    is  your  dut}r   to   bear   your   part." 


214  the  youxto  adventurer;  or, 

"  I  am  willing  to  provide  a  substitute,"  said 
Peabody,  eagerly. 

"Where   will  you   find   a   substitute?" 

"I  have  been  talking  with  Tom  Nelson.  He 
says  he  is   willing  to  serve   in  my  turn." 

"  He  will  serve  when  his  own  turn  comes ;  that 
will  be  all  we  can  expect  of  him." 

"But  he  is  only  a  boy.  Why  should  he  be 
expected   to  take   his   turn?" 

"  If  he  is  old  enough  to  be  a  substitute,  he  is 
old  enough  to  stand   watch  for   himself." 

"But,  Mr.  Fletcher,  I  am  very  delicate,"  pro- 
tested Lawrence  Peabody.  "  I  must  have  my 
regular  sleep,   or  I  shall  be  sick." 

"  We  must  take  our  chances  of  that,  Mr.  Peabody." 

"  I  shall  be  very  likely  to  go  to  sleep  on 
my  post." 

"  I  wouldn't  advise  you  to,"  said  Fletcher, 
seriously.     "  It  might  be   dangerous." 

"Dangerous!"   ejaculated  Peabody,   nervously. 

"Precisely.  If  a  lurking  Indian  should  surprise 
you,  you  might  wake  up  to  find  yourself  scalped. ** 

"  Good  gracious ! "  exclaimed  the  Bostonian,  bis 


TOifs    TRIP   ACROSS    THE    PLAINS.  215 

teeth  chattering,  for  he  was  not  of  the  stuff  of 
which  heroes  are  made.  "  Do  you  —  think  there 
is  any   danger  of  that?" 

"Considerable,  if  you  neglect  your  duty." 
"But  perhaps  I  can't  help  falling  asleep." 
"Mr.  Peabody,"  said  Fletcher,  sternly,  "you 
must  keep  awake.  Not  only  your  own  safety, 
but  that  of  the  whole  camp,  may  depend  upon 
your  vigilance.  If  you  choose  to  risk  your  own 
life,  I  don't  complain  of  that,  but  you  shall  not 
imperil  ours.  I  therefore  give  you  notice,  that  if 
you  fall  asleep  on  guard  you  will  be  drummed 
out  of  camp,  and  left  to  shift  for  yourself." 

"  But  I  couldn't  find  my  way  on  the  prairie," 
said  Peabodj",  very   much   alarmed. 

"  You  had  better  think  of  that  when  you  are 
tempted  to  close  your  eyes,  Mr.  Peabody,"  replied 
Fletcher. 

Lawrence  Peabody  walked  off,  feeling  very  much 
disconcerted.  Fervently  he  wished  himself  back 
in  Boston,  where  there  are  no  Indians,  and  a 
man  might  sleep  from  one  week's  end  to  another 
without   any   danger  of  losing  his   scalp. 


216  THE    YOUNQ   ADVENTURER;    OR, 

"  What's  the  matter,  Mr.  Peabody  ? "  asked 
Tom,   observing   bis   melancholy   appearance. 

"I  don't  think  I  shall  ever  live  to  see  Cali- 
fornia," answered    Mr.    Peabodj',    plaintively. 

"Why,  what's  the  matter  now?"  asked  Tom, 
checking  an  inclination  to  laugh ;  "are  you  sick?" 

"I  don't  feel  very  well,  Tom.  I'm  very  delicate, 
and  this  journey  is  almost  too  much  for  my  strength." 

"Oh,  cheer  up,  Mr.  Peabody!  Think  of  the  gold 
that  awaits  you  at  the  end  of  the  journey." 

"  It's  all  that  keeps  me  up,  I  do  assure  you. 
But  I  am  afraid  I  shall  never  live  to  get  there," 
said   Peabody,   with   a   groan. 

"  Don't  think  of  such  thing3,  Mr.  Peabody. 
Of  course  none  of  us  is  sure  of  living,  but  the 
chances  are,  that  we  shall  reach  California  in 
health,  make  our  fortunes,  and  go  home  rich. 
At  any  rate,  that's  what  I  am  looking  forward  to." 

"I  wouldn't  mind  so  much  but  for  one  thing, 
Tom." 

"What   is   that?" 

"  Fletcher  insists  that  I  shall  take  my  turn  in 
standing     guard.     If    I    were    not    so    delicate     I 


TOM'S    TRIP   ACROSS    THE    PLAINS.  217 

wouldn't  mind ;  but  I  know  I  can't  stand  it.  I'll 
give  you  two  dollars  to  take  my  place,  every 
time    my    turn   comes." 

"  I  am  willing,  if  Mr.  Fletcher  is,"  said  Tom, 
who  was  by  no  means  averse  to  making  a  little 
extra   money. 

41  But  he  isn't.  I  proposed  it  to  him,  for  I 
was  sure  I  could  arrange  with  you ;  but  he  re- 
fused." 

"  I  suppose,"  said  Tom,  slyly,  "  he  thought  I 
couldn't  till  your  place.  You  are  a  brave,  resolute 
man,    and   I  am   only   a   boy." 

*'  Tom  —  I  —  I  don't  mind  telling  you  ;  but  I  am 
afraid    I    am    not   brave." 

"  Oh,  nonsense,  Mr.  Eeabody ;  that  is  only  your 
modesty." 

"But  I  assure  you,"  said  the  young  Bostonian, 
earnestly,  "  I  am  speaking  the  truth.  If  I  should 
see  an  Indian  crawling  near  the  camp  I'm  really 
afraid    I   should   faint." 

"  You  won't  know  how  brave  you  are  till  yoo 
are   put  to   the   test." 

"  But   do   you  think   there   is  any  chance   of  my 


218  THE    YOUNO   ADVENTURER ;    0«, 

being  put  to  the  test?  Do  you  think  there  are 
any  Indians  near?"  asked  Lawrence  Peabody, 
wiping  the   damp   perspiration   from  his  brow. 

"Of  course  there  must  be,"  said  Tom.  "We  are 
passing  through  their  hunting-grounds,  you  know." 

"Why  did  I  ever  leave  Boston?"  said  Mr. 
Peabody,   sadly. 

"You  came,  as  I  did,  to  make  your  fortune, 
Mr.   Peabody." 

"I'm  afraid  I  can't  keep  awake,  Tom;  Mr. 
Fletcher  tells  me,  if  I  don't,  that  he  will  turn  me 
adrift  on   the   prairie.     Isn't   that   hard  ? " 

"I  am  afraid  it  is  a  necessary  regulation.  But 
you  won't  fall  asleep.  Your  turn  will  only  come 
about  once  in  two  weeks,  and   that  isn't  much." 

"The  nights   will  seem   very   long." 

"  I  don't  think  so.  I  think  it'll  be  fun,  for  my 
part." 

"But  suppose  —  when  you  are  watching  —  you 
should  all  at  once  see  an  Indian,  Tom?"  said 
Peabody,   with  a  shiver. 

"I  think  it  would  be  rather  unlucky  for  the 
Indian,"   said  Tom,  coolly. 


Tom's  trip  across  the  plains.  219 

"You  are  a  strange  boy,  Tom,"  said  Mr. 
Peabody. 

"What  makes   you   think   so?" 

"You  don't  seem  to  care  anything  about  tht 
danger  of  being  scalped." 

"  I  don't  believe  I  should  like  being  scalped 
any   more   than  you   do." 

"  You  might  have  got  off  from  standing  watch ; 
but  you   asked  to   be   allowed  to." 

"That  is  quite  true,  Mr.  Peabody.  I  want  to 
meet  my   fair   share   of  danger   and   fatigue." 

"  You  can  stand  it,  for  you  are  strong  and 
tough.     You  have  not  my  delicacy  of  constitution." 

"Perhaps   that's   it,"   said   Tom,   laughing. 

"  Would  you  mind  speaking  to  Fletcher,  and 
telling   him  you   are  willing  to  take   my  place?" 

"  I  will  do  it,  if  you  wish  me  to,  Mr.  Peabody." 

"  Thank  you,  Tom ;  you  are  a  true  friend ; " 
and  Mr.  Peabody  wrung  the  hand  of  his  young 
companion. 

Tom  was  as  good  as  his  word.  He  spoke  to 
Fletcher  on  the  subject ;  but  the  leader  of  the 
expedition   was   obdurate. 


220  THE    YOUNQ   ADVENTURER /    OR, 

"  Can't  consent,  my  boy,"  he  said.  "  It  i* 
enough  for  you  to  take  your  turn.  That  young 
dandy  from  Boston  needs  some  discipline  to  make 
a  man  of  him.  He  will  never  do  anything  in  a 
country  like  California  unless  he  has  more  grit 
than  he  shows  at  present.  I  shall  do  him  a  favor 
by   not  excusing   him." 

Tom  reported  the  answer  to  Peabody,  who 
groaned  in  spirit,  and  nervously  waited  for  the 
night  when   he   was   to   stand   watch. 


TOMS    TRIP  ACROSS    TJJM   PLAINS.  221 


CHAPTER  XXIV. 


A    SAD    SIGHT. 


A  dat  later,  while  the  wagon  train  was  slowly 
winding  through  a  mountain  defile,  they  encoun- 
tered a  sight  which  made  even  the  stout-hearted 
leader  look  grave.  Stretched  out  stiff  and  stark 
were  two  figures,  cold  in  death.  They  were  men 
of  middle  age  apparently.  From  each  the  scalp 
had  been  removed,  thus  betraying  that  the  mur- 
derers  were   Indians. 

"  I  should  like  to  come  across  the  red  devils 
who  did  this,"  said  Fletcher. 

"What  would  you  do  with  them?"  asked  Fer- 
guson. 

"  Shoot  them  down  like  dogs,  or  if  I  could 
take  them  captive  they  should  dangle  upon  the 
boughs   of  yonder  tree." 

"  I  hope  I  shall  be  ready  to  die  when  my 
tune  comes,"  said  Ferguson ;    "  but  I  want  it  to  be 


222  TBE    YODtTO   ADVENTURER       OR. 

in  a  Christian  bed,  and  not  at  the  hands  of  a 
dirty  savage." 

Just  then  Lawrence  Peabody  came  up.  He  had 
been   lagging  in   the   rear,  as    usual. 

"What  have  you  found?"  he  inquired,  not  see- 
ing the  bodies  at  first,  on  account  of  the  party 
surrounding  them. 

"Come  here,  and  see  for  yourself,  Peabody," 
said   one   of  the   company. 

Lawrence  Peabody  peered  at  the  dead  men  (he 
was   rather  near-sighted)    and   turned   very  pale. 

"Is   it  the    Indians?"   he    faltered. 

"  Yes,  it's  those  devils.  You  can  tell  their  work 
when  you  see  it.  Don't  you  see  that  they  are 
scalped  ?  " 

"I  believe  I  shall  faint,"  said  Peabody,  his 
face  becoming  of  a  greenish  hue.  "  Tom,  let  me 
lean  on  your  shoulder.  Do — do  you  think  it  has 
been  done  lately?" 

"  Yesterday,  probably,"  said  Ferguson.  "  The 
bodies   look  fresh." 

"  Then  the  Indians  that  did  it  must  be  near 
here?" 


TOM'S   TRIP  ACROSS    THE  PLAINS.  228 

"Probably." 

"These    men    were    either    travelling    by    them- 
selves,   or    had    strayed    away    from   their   party," 
taid  Fletcher.     "It  shows  how  necessary  it  is  for 
ns  to  keep  together.     In  union  there  is  strength." 
The    bodies  were    examined.     In  the  pocket  of 
one  was  found   a  letter  addressed    to  James  Col- 
lins,  dated    at  some  town  in  Maine.     The   writer 
appeared  to    be  his    wife.     She    spoke  of   longing 
for  the  time  when  he  should   return  with    money 
enough  to  redeem  their  farm  from  a  heavy  mortgage. 
"Poor  woman!"  said  Ferguson.   "She  will  wait 
for  her  husband  in  vain.    The  mortgage  will  never 
be  paid   through  his  exertions." 

Tom  looked  sober,  as  he  glanced  compassion- 
ately at  the  poor  emigrant. 

"He  came  on  the  same  errand  that  I  did,"  he 
said.  "I  hope  my  journey  will  have  a  happier 
ending." 

"Always  hope  for  the  best,  Tom,"  said  his 
Scotch  friend.  "You  will  live  happier  while  you 
do  live,  and,  if  the  worst  comes,  it  will  be  time 
enough  to  submit  to  it  when  you    must." 


224  THE    YOUNQ   ADVENTURER;    OR, 

"  That  is   good   philosophy,   Mr.    Ferguson." 

**  Indeed   it  is,   my  lad.     Don't  borrow   trouble." 

"  We  must  bury  these  poor  men,"  said  Fletcher. 
"  We  can't  leave  them  out  here,  possibly  to  be 
devoured  by  wild  beasts.  Who  will  volunteer  for 
the   service  ?  " 

"  Come,  Peabody,"  said  John  Miles,  a  broad- 
shouldered  giaut,  who  had  a  good-natured  con- 
tempt for  the  young  man  from  Boston.  "  Suppose 
you   and    I    volunteer." 

Lawrence  Peabody  shrank  back  in  dismay  at 
the   unwelcome   proposition. 

"  I  couldn't  do  it,"  he  said,  shivering.  "  I  never 
touched  a  dead  body  in  my  life.  I  am  so  del- 
icate  that   I    couldn't   do  it,    I    assure   you." 

"  It's  lucky  we  are  not  all  delicate,"  said  Miles, 
"or  the  poor  fellows  would  be  left  unburied. 
I  suppose  if  anything  happens  to  you,  Peabody, 
you   will   expect   us   to  bury   you  ? " 

44  Oh,  don't  mention  such  a  thing,  Mr.  Miles,'* 
entreated  Peabody,  showing  symptoms  of  becoming 
hysterical.     ki  I    really   can't    bear   it." 

44 It's  my  belief  that  nature  h.i*  made  a  mistake, 


TOM'S   TRW  ACROSS   THX  PLAINS.  225 

and  Peabody  was  meant  for  a  woman,"  said  Miles, 
shrugging  his  shoulders. 

"I  will  assist  you,  my  friend,"  said  the  Scotch- 
man. » If  s  all  that  remains  for  us  to  do  for  the 
poor  fellows  " 

"Not  quite  all,"  said  Tom.  "Somebody  ought 
to  write  to  the  poor  wife.  We  have  her  address 
in  the  letter  you  took  from  the  pocket." 

"Well  thought  of,  my  lad,"  said  Fletcher. 
"Will  you  undertake   it?" 

"  If  you  think  I  can  do  it  properly,"  said  Tom, 
modestly. 

"  It'll  be  grievous  news,  whoever  writes  it.  You 
can  do  it  as  well   as  another." 

In  due  time  Mrs.  Collins  received  a  letter 
revealing  the  sad  fate  of  her  husband,  accompanied 
with    a    few  simple  words  of  sympathy. 

Over  the  grave  a  rude  cross  was  planted,  fash- 
ioned of  tw6  boards,  with  the  name  of  James 
Collins,  cut  out  with  a  jackknife  upon  them.  This 
inscription   was  the  work  of  Miles. 

"  Somebody  may  see  it  who  knows  Collins,"  ha 
aaid. 

is 


826  the  rouira  adventurer;  or, 

It  happened  that,  on  the  second  night  after  the 
discovery  of  Collins  and  his  unfortunate  compan- 
ion, Lawrence  Peabody's  turn  came  to  stand  watch. 
He  was  very  uneasy  and  nervous  through  the  day. 
In  the  hope  of  escaping  the  ordeal  he  so  much 
dreaded  he  bound  a  handkerchief  round  his  head. 

"What's  the  matter,  Mr.  Peabody?"  asked 
Fletcher. 

"  I've  got  a  fearful  headache,"  groaned  Peabody. 
"It  seems  to  me   as  if  it  would   split  open." 
"Let  me  feel  of  it,"   said  Fletcher. 
"It  doesn't  feel  hot;  it  doesn't  throb,"  he  said. 
"It  aches  terribly,"    said  Peabody.      "I'm  very 
subject  to  headache.     It  is  the  effect  of  a  delicate 
constitution." 

"The  fellow  is  shamming,"  said  Fletcher  to 
himself;  and  he  felt  disgust  rather  than  sympathy. 
"It's  a  little  curious,  Mr.  Peabody,  that  this 
headache  should  not  come  upon  you  till  the  day 
you  are  to  stand  on  watch,"  remarked  the  leader, 
with  a  sarcasm  which  even  the  young  man  from 
Boston  detected. 

"  Yes,    if  s    strange,"    he   admitted,    "  and  very 


TOA^S    TRIP  ACROSS    THE   PLAINS.  227 

anlucky,   for  of   course    you  won't    expect  a    sick 
man  to  watch." 

♦'You  don't  look  at  it  in  the  right  light,  Mr. 
Peabody.  I  regard  it  as  rather  lucky  than  other 
wise." 

Lawrence  Peabody  stared. 

"I    don't    understand    you,   Mr.     Fletcher,"    he 
said. 

"If  you  have  the  headache,  it  will  prevent  you 
from  going  to  sleep,  and  you  remember  you  ex- 
pressed yourself  as  afraid  that  you  might.  If 
you  were  quite  well,  I  might  feel  rather  afraid 
of  leaving  the  camp  in  your  charge.  Now,  I  am 
sure  vou  won't  fall  asleep." 

Mr.  Peabody  listened  in  dismay.  The  very  plan 
to  which  he  had  resorted  in  the  hope  of  evading 
duty  was  likely  to  fasten  that  duty  upon   him. 

"He'll  be  well  before  night,"  thought  Fletcher, 
shrewdly;  and  he  privately  imparted  the  joke  to 
the  rest  of  the  party.  The  result  was  that  Mr. 
Peabody  became  an  object  of  general  attention. 

In  half  an  hour  the  young  man  from  Boston 
removed  his  handkerchief  from  his  head. 


228  THE    YOUNQ  ADVENTURER;   OJl, 

"Are  you  feeling  better,  Mr.  Peabody?"  asked 
Tom. 

"  Very   much  better,"   said  Peabody. 

"Your  headache  seems  to  pass  off  suddenly." 

"Yes,  it  always  does,"  said  the  young  Bos- 
tonian.  "  I  am  like  mother  in  that.  She  had  a 
delicate  constitution,  just  like  mine.  One  minute 
she  would  have  a  headache  as  if  her  head  would 
split  open,  and  half  an  hour  afterwards  she 
would  feel   as  well  as  usual." 

"  You  are  very  fortunate.  I  was  afraid  your 
headache  would  make  it  uncomfortable  for  you 
to  watch  to-night." 

"  Yes,  it  would ;  but,  as  the  captain  said,  it 
would  have  kept  me  awake.  Now  I  don't  believe 
I  can  keep  from  sleeping  on  my  post." 

"Why  don't  you  tell  Fletcher  so?" 

"Won't  you  tell  him,  Tom?  He  might  pay 
more   attention  to   it  if  you   told   him." 

"No,  Mr.  Peabody.  You  are  certainly  the 
most  suitable  person  to  speak  to  him.  What 
makes  you  think  he  would  pay  more  attention  to 
me,   who   am  only  a   boy?" 


TOifS   TRIP   ACROSS    THE   PLAINS.  229 

"  He  seems  to  like  3-011,   Tom." 

"  I  hope  he  does,  but  really,  Mr.  Peabody,  you 
mast  attend   to  your  own   business." 

Fletcher  was  at  the  head  of  the  train,  walking 
beside  the  first  wagon.  Hearing  hurried  steps,  he 
turned,  and  saw  Mr.  Lawrence  Peabody,  panting  for 
breath. 

"  Have  you  got  over  your  headache,  Mr.  Pea- 
body?"  he   asked,   with   a  quiet   smile. 

"Yes,    Mr    Fletcher,   it's   all   gone." 

"I   am   glad   to   hear   it." 

"  It  would  have  kept  mc  awake  to-night,  as  yon 
remarked,"  said  Peabody.  "  Now,  I  am  really 
afraid   that  I   shall   fall   asleep." 

"  That  would   be   bad   for  you." 

•'Why   so?" 

"  You  remember  those  two  poor  fellows  whom 
we  found  scalped,   the  other  day?" 

"  I  shall  never  forget  them,"  said  Lawrence 
Peabody,   with   a   shudder. 

"  Better  think  of  them  to-night.  If  you  go  to 
sleep  on  watch,  those  very  Indians  may  serve  you 
in   the   same   way." 


280  THE    lOUNO   ADVENTURER;   ORy 

"Oh,  good  gracious!"  ejaculated  Peabody,  turn 
Ing   pale. 

"They  or  some  of  their  tribe  are,  no  doubt, 
near  at  hand." 

"Don't  you  think  you  could  excuse  me,  Mr. 
Fletcher?"   stammered  Peabody,   panic-stricken. 

"No!"  thundered  Fletcher,  so  sternly  that  the 
unhappy  Bostonian   shrank   back   in  dismay. 

For  the  credit  of  Boston,  it  may  be  said  that 
John  Miles  —  a  broad-shouldered  young  giant,  who 
did  not  know  what  fear  was  — more  honorably 
represented  the  game  city. 


TOM'S    TRIP  ACROSS    THE    PLAINS.  831 


CHAPTER   XXV. 

A   NIOHT  PANIC. 

Lawrence  Peabodt's  feelings  when  night  ap- 
proached were  not  unlike  those  of  a  prisoner 
under  sentence  of  death.  He  was  timid,  nervous, 
and  gifted  with  a  lively  imagination.  His  fears 
were  heightened  by  the  sad  spectacle  that  he  had 
recently  witnessed.  His  depression  was  apparent 
to  all;  but  I  regret  to  say  that  it  inspired  more 
amusement  than  sympathy.  Men  winked  at  each 
other  as  they  saw  him  pass;  and,  with  the 
exception  of  Tom  and  his  Scotch  friend,  proba- 
bly nobody  pitied  the  poor  fellow. 

"He's  a  poor  creature,  Tom,"  said  Donald 
Ferguson;  "but  I  pity  him.  We  wouldn't  mind 
watching  to-night;  but  I  doubt  it's  a  terrible 
thing   to  him." 

"I  would  volunteer  in  his  place,  but  Mr. 
Fletcher  won't  agree  to   it,"  said  Tom. 


232  the  rouiro  adventures;  or, 

"He  is  right.    The  young  man  must  take  his 

turn.    He    won't    dread    it    so    much    a    second 

time." 
i 

"  What  would  the  poor  fellow  do  if  he  should 

see  an  Indian?" 

"  Faint,   likely ;   but  that  is   not  probable.** 

"  Mr.  Fletcher  thinks  there  are  some  not  far 
off." 

"  They  don't  attack  in  the  night,  so  I  hear." 

"That  seems  strange  to  me.  I  should  think 
the  night  would  be  most  favorable  for  them. 

"  It's  their  way.  Perhaps  they  have  some 
superstition  that  hinders." 

"  I  am  glad  of  it,  at  any  rate.  I  can  sleep 
with  greater  comfort." 

The  rest  were  not  as  considerate  as  Tom  and 
Ferguson.  They  tried,  indeed,  to  excite  still 
further  the  fears  of  the  young  Bostonian. 

"  Peabody,"  said  Miles,  "  have  you  made  your 
will?" 

"No;"  answered  Peabody,  nervously.  "Why 
should  1?" 

"  Oh,  I  was  thinking  that  if  anything  happened 


TOM'S    TRIP  ACROSS    THE   PLAINS.  238 

to  you  to-night  you  might  like  to  say  how  your 
things  are  to  be  disposed  of.  You've  got  a  gold 
watch,   haven't  you?" 

"  Yes,"   said   Peabody,    nervously. 

"  And   a  little   money,    I   suppose." 

"Not  very   much,   Mr.    Miles." 

"  No  matter  about  that.  Of  course  if  you  are 
killed  you  won't  have  occasion  for  it,"  said  Miles, 
in   a   matter-of-fact  tone. 

"  I  wish  you  wouldn't  talk  that  way,"  said 
Peabody,    irritably.     "  It   makes   me   nervous." 

"What's  the  use  of  being  nervous?  It  won't 
do   any  good." 

"  Do  you  really  think,  Mr.  Miles,  there  is 
much   danger?"   faltered   Peabody. 

"  Of  course  there  is  danger.  But  the  post  of 
danger  is  the  post  of  honor.  Now,  Peabody,  I 
want  to  give  you  a  piece  of  advice.  If  you  spy 
one  of  those  red  devils  crouching  in  the  grass, 
don't  stop  to  parley,  but  up  with  your  revolver, 
and  let  him  have  it  in  the  head.  If  you  can't 
hit  him  in  the  head,  hit  him  where  you  can." 

"Wouldn't  it  be  better,"  suggested  Peabody,  in 


234  THE    YOUNQ  ADVENTURER;   OR, 

a    tremulous   voice,    "  to  wake    you    up,    or    Mr. 

Fletcher?" 

"  While  you  were  doing  it  the  savage  would 
make  mince-meat  of  you.  No,  Peabody,  fire  at 
once.  This  would  wake  us  all  up,  and  if  you 
didn't  kill  the  reptile  we  would  do  it  for  you." 

"  Perhaps  he  would  see  me  first,"  suggested 
Peabody,   in   a  troubled   tone. 

"  You  mustn't  let  him.  You  must  have  your 
eyes  all  about  you.  You  are  not  near-sighted, 
are  you  ?  " 

"I  believe  I  am — a  little,"  said  Peabody, 
eagerty,  thinking  that  this  might  be  esteemed  a 
disqualification  for  the   position   he   dreaded. 

14  Oh,  well,  I  guess  it  won't  make  any  differ- 
ence,  only   you   will   need   to   be   more  vigilant." 

"  I  wish  I  was  blind ;  just  for  to-night," 
thought  Peabody  to  himself,  with  an  inward  sigh. 
"  Then   they   would   have   to   excuse   me." 

John  Miles  overtook  Fletcher,  who  was  with  the 
head  wagon 

"Capt.  Fletcher,"  he  said,  "I  am  afraid  Pea- 
body will   make   a  mighty   poor  watch." 


TOM'S   TRIP  ACROSS    TUB   PLAINS.  285 

"Just   my   opinion." 

"  He  is  more  timid  than  the  average  of  women. 
I've  got  a  sister  at  home  that  has  ten  times  his 
courage.  If  she  hadn't  I  wouldn't  own  the  rela- 
tionship." 

"  I    am   not  willing  to   excuse   him." 

"Of  course  not;  but  I'll  tell  you  what  I'll  do. 
I'll  keep  an  eye  open  myself,  so  that  we  shan't 
wholly   depend  on   him." 

"  If  you  are  willing  to  do  it,  Miles,  we  shall 
all  be  indebted  to  you.  Don't  let  him  know  it, 
though." 

"  I  don't  mean  to.  He  shall  suppose  he  is 
the   only  man   awake   in   camp." 

At  a  comparatively  early  hour  the  party  stretched 
themselves  out  upon  the  ground,  inviting  sleep. 
Generally  they  did  not  have  to  wait  long.  The 
day's  march  brought  with  it  considerable  physical 
fatigue.  Even  those  who  were  light  sleepers  at 
home  slept  well  on  the  trip  across  the  plains. 
Few  or  none  remained  awake  half  an  hour  after 
lying  down.  So  Peabody  knew  that  he  would 
•oon   be   practically   alone. 


286  the   young  adventurer;  on. 

With  a  heavy  heart  he  began  to  pace  slowly 
forward  and  back.     He  came  to  where  Tom  lay. 

"Tom  —  Tom  Nelson,"  he  called,  in  a  low 
roice. 

"What's  the  matter?"  asked  Tom,  in  a  sleepy 
tone. 

"  Are  yon   asleep  ?  " 

"  No ;   but   I   soon   shall   be." 

"Won't  you  try  to  keep  awake  a  little  while? 
It  won't   seem   so   lonesome." 

"  Sorry  I  can't  accommodate  you,  Mr.  Peabody ; 
but  I'm   awfully   tired  and   sleepy." 

"Who's  that  talking  there?"  drowsily  demanded 
the  nearest  emigrant.  "Can't  you  keep  quiet,  and 
let    a  fellow   sleep?" 

"  Good-night,  Mr.  Peabody,"  said  Tom,  by  way 
of  putting   an  end   to   the  conversation. 

"  Good-night,"  returned  the  sentinel,  disconso- 
lately. 

The  hours  passed  on,  and  Lawrence  Peabody 
maintained  his  watch.  He  was  in  no  danger  of 
going  to  sleep,  feeling  too  timid  and  nervous.  He 
began   to   feel   a   little    more   comfortable. 


Tom's  trip  across  the  plains.  237 

He   could  see   nothing   suspicious,  and    hear    noth 
ing    except    the    deep    breathing    of   his    sleeping 
comrades. 

"It  is  not  so  bad  as  I  expected,"  he  muttered 
to   himself. 

He  began  to  feel  a  little  self-complacent,  ana 
to  reflect  that  he  had  underrated  his  own  courage. 
He  privately  reflected  that  he  was  doing  as 
well  as  any  of  his  predecessors  in  duty.  He 
began  to  think  that  after  he  had  got  back  to 
Boston  with  a  fortune,  gained  in  California,  he 
could  impress  his  friends  with  a  narrative  of  his 
night-watch  on  the  distant  prairies.  But  his  cour- 
age  had   not  yet  been  tested. 

He  took  out  his  watch  to  see  how  time  was 
passing. 

It  pointed   to   twelve   o'clock. 

Why  there  should  be  anything  more  alarming 
in  twelve  o'clock  than  in  any  other  hour  I  can't 
pretend  to  say,  but  the  fact  none  will  question. 
Mr.  Peabody  fere  a  nervous  thrill  when  his  eyes 
rested  on  the  dial.  He  looked  about  him,  and 
the    darkness    seemed    blacker    and    more    awe-in- 


238  THE    TOUNQ   ADVENTURER /    OR, 

spiring  than  ever,  now  that  he  knew  it  to  be 
midnight. 

"  Will  it  ever  be  morning?"  he  groaned.  "  Four 
long  hours  at  least  before  there  will  be  light. 
I   don't   know  how  I   am  going  to   stand   it." 

Now,  there  was  attached  to  the  wagon-tra^n  one 
of  those  universally  despised  but  useful  animals, 
a  donkey,  the  private  property  of  a  man  from 
Iowa,  who  expected  to  make  it  of  service  in 
California.  The  animal  was  tethered  near  the 
camp,  and  was  generally  quiet.  But  to-night  he 
was  wakeful,  and  managed  about  midnight  to 
slip  his  tether,  and  wandered  off.  Peabody  did 
not  observe  his  escape.  His  vigilance  was  some- 
what relaxed,  and  with  his  head  down  he  gave 
way  to  mournful  reflection.  Suddenly  the  donkey, 
who  was  now  but  a  few  rods  distant,  uplifted 
his  voice  in  a  roar  which  the  night  stillness 
made  louder  than  usual.  It  was  too  much  for 
the  overwrought  nerves  of  the  sentinel.  He  gave 
a  shriek  of  terror,  fired  wildly  in  the  air,  and 
sank  fainting  to  the  ground.  Of  course  the 
camp   was    aroused.      Men    jumped    to    their   feet, 


TOM  8   TRIP  ACROSS    THE   PLAJ2TS.  239 

and,  rubbing  their  eyes,  gazed  around  them  in 
bewilderment. 

It  was  not  long  before  the  truth  dawned 
apon  them.  There  lay  the  sentinel,  insensible 
from  fright,  his  discharged  weapon  at  his  feet, 
and  the  almost  equally  terrified  donkey  was  in 
active  flight,  making  the  air  vocal  with  his  pecu- 
liar cries. 

There  was  a  great  shout  of  laughter,  in  the 
midst  of  which  Peabody  recovered  consciousness. 

"Where  am  I?"  he  asked,  looking  about  him 
wildly,  and  he  instinctively  felt  for  his  scalp, 
which  he  was  relieved  to  find  still  in  its 
place. 

"What's  the  matter?"  asked  the  loader, 
"What  made  you  fire?" 

"I  —  I  thought  it  was  the  Indians,"  faltered  Pea- 
body.     "  I  thought  I  heard  their  horrid  war-whoop." 

"Not  very  complimentary  to  the  Indians  to 
compare    them   with     donkeys,"    said    Miles. 

Lawrence  Peabody  was  excused  from  duty  for 
the  remainder  of  the  night,  his  place  being 
taken  by  Miles   and   Tom   in  turn. 


240  THE    YOUNG   ADVENTURER /    OH, 

It  was  a  long  time  before  he  heard  the  last 
of  his  ridiculous  panic,  but  he  was  not  sensi- 
tive as  to  his  reputation  for  courage,  and  h« 
bore  it,  on  the  whole,  pretty  well. 


TOM'S    RRIP  ACROSS    T/TB    PLAINS.  243 


CHAPTER    XXVI. 

MR.    PEABODY   IS   WORSTED    BT    A    DONKEY. 

The  traveller  of  to-day  who  is  whirled  across 
the  continent  in  six  days  and  a  half  has  little 
conception  of  what  the  overland  journey  was  in 
the  year  1850.  Week  after  week  and  month  after 
month  slipped  away  between  the  start  and  the 
arrival  on  the  western  slope  of  the  Sierra  Nevadas. 
Delicate  women  and  children  of  tender  years  devel- 
oped extraordinary  endurance,  and  showed  remark- 
able fortitude  on  the  wearisome  trip.  But  the 
hope  of  bettering  their  fortunes  was  the  magnet 
that  drew  them  steadily  on,  day  after  day,  in 
their   march   across   the   plains. 

Tom  was  at  an  age  when  adventure  has  a 
charm.  His  feet  were  often  weary ;  but  he  never 
tired  of  the  journey.  Every  morning  found  him 
active,  alert,  and  ready  for  the  toilsome  walk. 
He  was,  indeed,  impatient  for  the  time  to  come 
16 


t43  THE    TOUNQ   ADVENTURER',    OB, 

when  he  could  be  earning  something  to  pay  up 
his  debt  to  Squire  Hudson,  and  so  relieve  his 
father  from  the  additional  burden  assumed  for  his 
sake.  Otherwise  he  was  quite  content  to  plod 
on,   seeing   something  new   every  day. 

"You're  always  cheerful,  Tom,  my  lad,"  said 
Ferguson,   one  day. 

"  Yes,"  said  Tom.  "  I  am  having  a  good 
time." 

"  Youth  is  aye  the  time  for  enjoyment.  When 
I  was  a  lad  like  you  I  might  have  been  the 
same." 

"Don't  you  enjoy  the  journey,  Mr.  Ferguson?" 
asked  Tom. 

"  I'm  getting  tired  of  it,  Tom.  I  look  upon 
it  as  a  means  to  an  end.  I'm  in  a  hurry  to  reach 
the  mines." 

"  So  am  I,   Mr.   Ferguson,   for  that  matter." 

"  And  I  can't  help  thinking,  what  if  they  don't 
turn  out  as  well  as  we  expect?  Then  there'll  be 
months  lost,  besides  a  good  bit  of  money," 
replied  Ferguson. 

**  Oh,  I'm  sure  there  is   plenty  of  gold,  and  we 


Tom's  trip  across  the  plains.  243 

shall  get  our  share,"  said  Tom,  confidently;  ''that 
is,   if  we  have  our  health." 

"  I  hope  it'll  be  as  you  say,  my  lad.  Indeed, 
I  think  you  are  right.  You  have  taught  me  a 
lesson." 

"Have  I,   Mr.  Ferguson?    What  is  it?" 

♦'Always  to  look  on  the  bright  side.  It  is  a 
lesson  worth  learning.  It  makes  a  man  feel  hap- 
pier, and  often  gives  courage  to  press  on  to  the 
accomplishment  of  his   purpose." 

"I   suppose   it  is   natural   to   me,"   said   Tom. 

"It  is  a  happy  gift.  It  is  a  pity  that  poor 
creature   from   Boston   hadn't   it." 

Lawrence  Peabody  was  approaching,  and  this 
no  doubt  led  to  the  allusion.  He  was  limping 
along,  looking  decidedly  down  in  the  mouth,  which, 
indeed,    was   not  unusual. 

"What  is  the  matter  with  you,  Mr.  Peabody?" 
asked  Tom. 

"  I'm  almost  gone,"  groaned  Peabody.  "  My 
strength  is  exhausted,  and,  besides,  I've  got  a 
terrible   corn   on   my   left   foot." 

"How   long  has   that   been?" 


244  THE    TOVNO  ADVENTURER ;   OJt, 

"  For  two  or  three  days.  It's  torture  for  me 
to  walk.  I  don't  know  but  you'll  have  to  leave 
me  here  on  the  prairie  to  perish." 

"  Not  so  bad  as  that,  Mr.  Peabody,  I  hope. 
Perhaps  Mr.  Chapman  will  lend  you  his  donkey 
to  ride   upon." 

The  owner  of  the  donkey  was  within  hearing 
distance,  and  at  once  expressed  a  willingness  to 
lend   his   animal   to   Mr.   Peabody. 

u  That  will  be  better  than  perishing  on  the 
prairies,"   said   Tom,   cheerfully. 

"  I  am  not  much  used  to  riding,"  said  Peabody, 
cautiously. 

"  He  won't  run  away  with  you,  Peabody,"  said 
the   owner.     "  He's   too   lazy." 

Lawrence  Peabody  was  already  aware  of  this 
fact,  and  it  gave  him  courage  to  accept  the 
offered  help.  He  mounted  Solomon,  —  as  the  don- 
key was  called,  for  some  unknown  reason, — and 
for  a  time  enjoyed  the  relief  from  the  toil  of 
walking.  He  became  quite  cheerful,  and  was 
<£isposui  to  congratulate  himself  upon  his  success, 
when    an   unfortunate   fit  of   obstinacy   came    over 


TOUfS   TKIP  ACROSS   TBB   PLAINS.  lib 

Solomon.  It  dawned  upon  the  sagacious  auimal 
that  it  would  be  much  easier  to  travel  without 
a  load,  and,  turning  his  head,  he  looked  thought- 
fully  at  his   rider. 

"Get  up,  Solomon!"  exclaimed  Peabody,  strik- 
ing the   animal   on   the    haunch. 

Solomon  felt  that  this  was  taking  a  personal 
liberty  and  he  stood  stock-still,,  his  face  expressive 
of   obstinacy. 

"Why  don't  he  go  on?"  asked  Peabody,  per- 
plexed. 

"He's  stopping  to  rest,"  said  Tom.  "I  am 
afraid   he  is    lazy." 

"  Go  along !  "  exclaimed  Peabody,  again  using 
his   whip. 

But  the   animal    did    not    budge. 

"  This  is  really  very  provoking,"  murmured  the 
rider.     "  What  shall  I  do?" 

"  Don't  give  up  to  him,"  advised  one  of  the 
company.     "  Here,   let   me   whip   him." 

"  Thank  you ;  I   wish  you    would." 

It  was  an  unlucky  speech.  The  other  complied 
with    his    request,    and    delivered     his     blow    with 


246  the  touno  adventurer;  OJt, 

such  etrphasis  that  Solomon's  equanimity  was 
seriously  disturbed.  He  dashed  forward  with 
what  speed  he  could  command,  Mr.  Peabody 
holding  on,  in  a  sort  of  panic,  till  he  was  a 
hundred  yards  away.  Then  he  stopped  suddenly, 
lowering  his  head,  and  his  hapless  rider  was 
thrown  over  it,  landing  some  distance  in  advance. 
Solomon  looked  at  him  with  grim  humor, 
if  a  donkey  is  capable  of  such  a  feeling,  and, 
apparently  satisfied,  turned  and  walked  com- 
placently  back   to  the   wagon   train. 

Several  of  the  company,  witnessing  the  accident, 
hurried  forward  to  Mr.  Peabody's  assistance. 
They  picked  him  up,  groaning  and  bewildered, 
but  not  much  hurt. 

"  None  of  your  limbs  broken,"  said  Miles. 
"  I   guess   you'll   do." 

u  I'm  badly  shaken  up,"  moaned  Peabody. 

"  It   will   do  you  good,"  said   Miles,   bluntly. 

"You  had  better  try  it  yourself,  then,"  retorted 
Peabody,    with   unwonted   spirit. 

"  Good  for  you  !  "  laughed  Miles.  "  I  suspect 
you   are  not  dead  yet." 


TOAfS    TRIP  ACROSS    THE    PLAINS.  247 

11  What  made  you  put  me  on  such  a  vicious 
beast?"   asked  Peabody  of  the   owner. 

"  Solomon  isn't  vicious ;  he's  only  lazy,"  said 
Chapman.     "  We  can't  blame   him   much." 

"I  think  he  ought  to  be  shot,"  said  Peabody, 
painfully  rising,  and  stretching  out  one  limb  after 
another  to   make   sure   that   none   was   broken. 

"You  seem  to  be  unlucky,  Mr.  Peabody,"  said 
Tom. 

"I'm   always   unlucky,"   moaned   Peabody. 

"  Will  you  ride  again,  Mr.  Peabody  ? "  asked 
Chapman.  "  I'll  catch  Solomon  for  you,  if  you 
like." 

"  Not  for  fifty  dollars !  "  exclaimed  Peabody, 
energetically.  "  It  is  as  much  as  anybody's  life 
is   worth." 

"  If  you  will  make  me  the  same  otfer,  I  won't 
refuse,   Mr.    Chapman,"  said   Tom. 

"You   can   mount  him,  if  you   like." 

Tom  waited  for  no  second  invitation.  He  ap- 
proached Solomon  cautiously,  vaulted  upon  his  back, 
and  the  animal,  disagreeably  surprised,  had  re- 
course  to  the   same   tactics   which   had    proved   so 


248  TBK    YOUNQ   ADVENTURER;    OR, 

successful  in  the  case  of  the  young  man  from 
Boston.  But  he  had  a  different  kind  of  a  rider 
to  deal  with.  Tom  had  been  accustomed  to  ride 
from  the  time  he  was  six  years  of  age,  and  he 
stuck  to  his  seat  in  spite  of  all  attempts  to  dis- 
lodge him.  So  far  from  feeling  alarmed,  he 
enjoyed   the  struggle. 

44  It's  no  go,  Solomon  I "  he  said  gayly.  44  You've 
tackled  the  wrong  customer  this  time.  Better 
make  up  your   mind   to   go   as   I   want  you   to." 

Solomon  came  to  the  same  conclusion  after  a 
time.  He  had  tried  his  ordinary  tactics,  and  they 
had  proved  unavailing.  The  struggle  had  been 
witnessed  with  some  interest  by  the  other  mem- 
bers  of  the   company. 

44  You  can  ride,  youngster ;  that's  a  fact,"  said 
the  owner  of  the  donkey.  44 1  didn't  say  anything, 
but  I  rather  expected  to  see    you  follow  Peabody." 

44  I'm  used  to  riding,"  said  Tom,  modestly. 
44  Mr.   Peabody   is   not." 

44  Every  lad  ought  to  know  how  to  ride,"  said 
Ferguson.  "  It's  a  deal  manlier  than  smoking  a 
eigar,   to  my  thinking." 


TOM'S   TRIP  ACROSS    THE  PLAINS.  249 

M  I  can  smoke  a  cigar,"  said  Peabody,  desirous 
probably  of  appearing  to  possess  one  manly  accom- 
plishment. 

"  You  will  hardly  find  it  as  useful  as  riding 
in  the  new  country  you  are  going  to,  Mr. 
Peabody,"   said    Ferguson,   drily. 

44  I'd  give  something  for  a  good  cigar  myself," 
said  John   Miles. 

44 1  prefer  riding,"  said  Tom.  44 1  never  smoked 
a  cigar  in  my  life." 

44  You  are  just  as  well  off  without  it,  my  lad," 
said  the  Scotchman.  44  It  don't  do  men  any  good, 
and  alwa3"s  harms  boys." 

Peabody  never  again  mounted  Solomon.  One 
trial  was  sufficient,  and,  foot-sore  and  lame  as  h« 
was,  he  decidedly  preferred  to  walk. 


150  THE    YOUNG  ADVENTURER  J   ORt 


CHAPTER  XXVTI. 


THE   LOST  HORSE. 


Day  followed  day,  and  every  sunset  found  the 
party  from  eighteen  to  twenty  miles  nearer  the 
land  of  gold.  They  had  not  yet  been  molested 
by  Indians,  though  on  more  than  one  occasion 
they  had  encountered  the  remains  of  those  whom 
the  savages  had  ruthlessly  slaughtered.  When 
they  witnessed  such  a  spectacle  they  were  moved 
less  by  fear  than  indignation. 

"I  didn't  think  I  should  ever  thirst  for  a 
fellow-creature's  blood,"  said  John  Miles ;  "  but 
if  I  could  meet  the  savages  that  did  this  bloody 
work,  I  would  shoot  them  down  like  dogs,  and 
sleep  all  the  more  soundly  for  it.  How  is  it 
with  you,   friend   Ferguson?" 

"I  am  inclined  to  agree  with  you,"  said  the 
Scotchman.  "  When  an  Indian  makes  himself  a 
beast  of  prey  he  should  be  treated  accordingly." 


TOJU^S   TRIP  ACROSS   THE  PLAINS.  251 

"Are  there  any  Indians  in  California?"  asked 
Peabody,   nervously. 

"I  don't  think  we  shall  have  any  trouble  with 
them  there,   Mr.   Peabody,"  said  Ferguson. 

"  Then  I  wish  I  was  there  now.  It  must  be 
terrible  to  be  scalped ; "  and  the  young  man  from 
Boston   shuddored. 

"  I  don't  think  it  would  be  an  agreeable 
surgical  operation,"  said  Fletcher,  who  had  just 
come  up.  "  Let  us  hope  that  we  shall  not  be 
called  upon   to  undergo  it." 

The  next  morning,  when  breakfast  was  over» 
and  the  party  was  preparing  to  start,  an  unpleasant 
discovery  was  made.  One  of  the  most  valuable 
horses  was  missing.  He  must  have  slipped  his 
tether  during  the  night,  and  strayed  away ;  as 
they  were  situated,  the  loss  of  such  an  animal 
would  be  felt. 

"  He  can't  be  far  away,"  said  Fletcher.  "  Some 
of  us  must  go  after  him." 

"  Let  Peabody  mount  the  mustang,  and  undertake 
to  find  him,"  suggested  John  Miles,  winking  at 
the  captain. 


252  TBE    YOUNG  ADVENTURER;    OR, 

•*  Mr.  Peabody,"  said  Captain  Fletcher,  gravely, 
"will  you  undertake  to  recover  the  horse?  We 
shall  all  feel  under  great  obligations  to  you." 

"I  —  I  hope  you'll  excuse  t  »e,  Captain  Fletcher," 
stammered  Peabody,  in  great  alarm.  "  I  know  I 
couldn't  find  the  horse.  I  shouldn't  know  where  to 
look." 

44  This  is  where  he  got  away.  Tou  can  see  his 
trail  in  the  grass,"  said  Scott,  a  young  man  from 
Indiana.  4t  All  }tou  will  have  to  do  will  be  to  follow 
the  trail,  Mr.  Peabody." 

"I'm  very  near-sighted,"  pleaded  Peabody.  4'I 
should  lose  my  way,  and  never  come  back." 

44  Carrying  the  mustang  with  you?  That  would 
be  a  loss  indeed,"  said  John  Miles,  pointedly.  44  On 
the  whole,  Captain  Fletcher,  we  had  better  excuse 
Mr.  Peabody." 

44  Mr.  Peabody  is  excused,"  said  the  leader. 

44  Thank  you,"  said  Peabody,  looking  relieved. 
"I  would  go,  I  am  sure,  if  I  could  do  any  good; 
but  I  know  I  couldn't." 

44  Who  will  volunteer?"  asked  Fletcher. 

44  Let  me  go,"  said  Tom,  eagerly. 


TOM'S    TRIP  ACROSS    THE   PLAINS.  263 

"  You  are  not  afraid  of  losing  your  way,  Tom?" 
said  Miles. 
"  No ;  or,  if  I  do,  I  will  find  it  again." 
"That  boy  is  more  of  a  man  now  than  Peabody 
will    ever     be,"   said    Miles,   in    a    low    voice    to 
Ferguson. 

"  That  he  is,"  said  the  Scotchman,  who  was  a  firm 
friend  of  our  young  hero.     "  There  is  the  making  of 
a  noble  man  in  him." 
"  I  believe  you." 

"  I  have  no  objection  to  your  going,  Tom,"  said 
Fletcher ;  "  but  it  is  better  that  you  should  have  com- 
pany.    Who  will  go  with  the  boy  ?  " 

"I,"  said  several,  among  them  John  Miles  and 
Henry  Scott. 

"  You  may  go,  Scott,"  said  the  leader.  « I  have 
work  for  Miles  at  camp.  The  sooner  you  get  started 
the  better." 

"  All  right,  captain.     Come  along,  Tom." 

The  two  were  in  the  saddle  before  two  minutes 

had  passed,    and,   guided   by   the   trail,   struck   out 

upon  the  prairie. 

Scott  was  a  tall,  broad-shouldered  young  farmer, 


254  THE    YOUNG  ADVENTURER ,'   OJI, 

not  over  twenty-five,  strong  and  athletic,  and  re- 
ported the  best  runner,  wrestler,  and  vaulter  in 
the  party.  Tom  was  very  well  pleased  to  have  his 
company. 


ra*a  tmlp  acmoss  tub  plains.  256 


CHAPTER  XXVm. 

INDIAN   CASUISTRY. 

"I  should  like  to  know  when  the  horse  got 
away,"  said  Scott,  as  he  and  Tom  rode  on  side  by 
side;  "then  we  could  calculate  how  far  we  should 
have  to  go  before  overtaking  him." 

"He  wouldn't  be  likely  to  travel  all  the  time, 
would  he?"  asked  Tom. 

"  Probably  not.  He  may  have  gone  only  a  mile 
or  two.     Are  your  eyes  good  ?  " 

"  Pretty  good." 

"Look  about,  then,  and  see  if  you  can  anywhere 
flee  anything  of  the  rover." 

Scott  and  Tom,  drawing  rein,  looked  searchingly 
in  all  directions;  but  nowhere  was  the  lost  animal 
visible. 

"Somebody  may  have  found  him,"  suggested 
Tom. 


it>6  the  youitq  adventurer;  or% 

"  That  may  be.  If  so,  we  have  a  harder  job 
before  us." 

The  prairie  was  not  quite  level,  but  was  what  is 
called  a  rolling  prairie,  and  this  limited  the  view. 
Otherwise  it  would  have  been  easy  for  a  person, 
whose  sight  was  keen,  to  have  distinguished  an 
object  as  large  as  a  horse  at  a  distance  of  many 
miles. 

"  Are  you  sure  we  are  on  the  right  track,  Mr. 
Scott?"  asked  Tom. 
"  Yes,  I  can  see  by  the  trail." 
"I  can  see  no  hoof-marks." 
"Not  just  here;  but  look  closely,  and  you  will 
see  slight  marks  of  disturbance  in   the  grass.     As 
long  as  these  signs  last  we  need  have  no  doubts 
as  to  our  being  on  the  right  track." 

"The  same  trail  will  lead  us  back  to  our  party," 
said  Tom. 

"  Yes,  I  shouldn't  like  to  part  from  them  in  this 
country.  It  would  be  rather  a  bad  place  to  be  lost 
without  provisions." 

They  had  ridden  about  five  miles,  when  the  trail 
became   clearer   and    better   defined.      In   fact,    the 


TOM'S    TRIP  ACJtOSS    TBK   PLAINS.  ihl 

marks  in  the  prairie-grass  appeared  more  numerou» 
than  a  single  horse  would  be  likely  to  make. 

Scott   looked   grave. 

"We   will   halt  here  a  moment,  Tom,"  he  said. 
"  I    want   to   examine   the   trail." 

"Shall   I   get  off  my  horse?" 

"  No ;    it   is   not  necessary." 

Scott  dismounted,  and  walked  about,  closely 
examining   the   marks   in   the   grass. 

Finalty   he   looked   up. 

"I  begin  to  think  it  doubtful  whether  we  shall 
recover   Dan,"   he   said. 

"Why?" 

"He  has  been  found  and  carried  off,"  was  the 
reply.     "  Do  you   see  the  double  trail  ? " 

"Yes,"   said   Tom,   after   a   brief  examination. 

"  It  means  that  a  horseman  has  found  Dan, 
and  led  him  away.  This  rather  complicates  mat- 
ters." 

"What  do  you  think  we  had  better  do?" 
inquired   Tom. 

"  That     requires     consideration.     I     could      tell 
better   if    I    knew   by   whom    the   horse    had    been 
17 


258  THE    YOUNQ   ADVENTURER  /    0M% 

found.  The  finder  may  be  honest,  and  would,  in 
that  case,  surrender  it  on  our  appearing,  and  claim- 
ing him.  But,  again,  he  may  be  dishonest,  and 
resist  our   claims." 

"We   are  two   to  one,"   said  Tom,   stoutly. 

"  We  don't  know  that.  The  man  may  belong 
to  a  party." 

"The  members  of  his  party  would  know  that 
the   horse   was   not  his." 

"Quite  true,  if  the  part}'  was  composed  of 
decent  persons,  like  our  own ;  but  that  is  not 
certain." 

"Then  will  you  go  back  without  Dan?"  asked 
Tom. 

"  I  don't  want  to  do  that.  In  fact  I  should 
be  ashamed  to.  Captain  Fletcher  would  conclude 
that  he  might  as  well  have  sent  Peabody ;  and 
I   am  not  anxious  to  be  classed  with  him." 

"  Nor  I,"   said  Tom,   smiling. 

"  So  the  only  thing  is  to  push  on,  and  make 
what  discoveries   we  may." 

"All  right,"  said  Tom,   cheerfully. 

They  rode  on  for  a  couple  of  miles,  having   no 


TOlfS    TRIP  ACROSS    THE  PLAINS.  259 

difficulty  in  following  the  trail,  until  they  reached 
the  brow  of  a  small  eminence.  Here  they  were 
greeted  with  a  sight  that  startled  them.  A  group 
of  a  dozen  Indians  were  reclining  on  the  grass, 
with  their  horses  fastened  near  them.  Startled  as 
they  were,  they  detected  the  animal  of  which 
they   were   in   search   among   the   Indian   horses. 

"  We've  walked  into  a  trap  with  our  eyes 
open,  Tom,"  said  Scott,  halting  his  horse  me- 
chanically. His  bronzed  face  was  a  little  pale, 
for  he  knew  well  the  character  of  the  savages 
before  him,  the  hopelessness  of  escape,  and  the 
terrible   fate   that   probably   awaited   them. 

"Shall  we  turn  and  fly,  Mr.  Scott?"  asked 
Tom,    hurriedly. 

:'It  would  be  of  no  use,  Tom.  We  must  stay 
and   face  the   music." 

Upon  the  appearance  of  the  two  friends  the 
Indians  had  sprung  to  their  feet,  and  the  col- 
loquy was  scarcely  over  before  there  was  an 
Indian  at  eacn  bridle  rein.  They  made  signs, 
easily  understood,  for  Tom  and  Scott  to  dis- 
mount. 


260  tub  youno  adventurer;  ©«, 

"  Stop  a  minute,"  said  Scott,  with  creditable 
coolness,  considering  the  great  peril  in  which  he 
knew  himself  to  be.  "  Is  there  any  one  here 
who   speaks   English?" 

An  elderly  Indian  stepped  forward  quickly,  and 
said,  "  Speak,  white  man.  I  speak  English  a 
little." 

"Good,"  said  Scott;  "then  I  want  you  to 
tell  your  friends  here  that  I  came  after  a  horse 
that  left  our  camp  last  night.  Do  you  under- 
stand?" 

The   Indian   inclined   his   head. 

"There  he  is,"  continued  Scott,  pointing  with 
his  finger  to  Dan.  "Give  him  to  me,  and  I  will 
go   away." 

The  interpreter  turned  to  his  companions,  and 
repeated  what  Scott  had  said.  Evidently  it  was 
not  favorably  received,  as  Scott  could  see  by  the 
menacing  looks  that  were  turned  upon  him.-  He 
waited,  with  some  anxiety,  for  the  answer  to  his 
claim.  He  had  to  wait  for  some  minutes,  during 
which  the  Indians  appeared  to  be  consulting.  It 
came   at   last. 


TOM'S    TRIP  ACROSS    TUB    PLATXS.  261 

"  The  white  man  has  lied,"  said  the  Indian, 
sententiously.     "  The   horse   is   ours." 

"That's  pretty  cool,  eh,  Tom?"  said  Scott, 
provoked ;  not  only  by  the  denial  of  his  claim, 
but  by   the   charge  of  falsehood. 

Tom  did  not  answer,  thinking  silence  more 
prudent. 

The  Indian  interpreter  looked  suspiciously  from 
one  to  the  other.  He  understood  what  "cool" 
meant,  but  was  not  familiar  with  the  special 
sense   in   which   Scott  used   it. 

"  I  will  prove  that  the  horse  is  ours,"  said 
Scott.     "Here,   Dan!" 

The  horse  whinnied,  and  tried  to  reach  Scott, 
upon   hearing   his   name   pronounced. 

"  There,"  said  Scott,  triumphantly,  "  you  see 
the   horse   knows   me.     I   have   not   lied." 

The  speech  was  an  imprudent  one.  Indians 
are  not  lawyers,  but  they  understand  the  familiar 
saying,  that  "  possession  is  nine  points  of  the 
law."  That  the  horse  was  a  valuable  one  they 
understood  ;  and  they  had  no  intention  of  parting 
with   him.     Still   more,   they   l'»oked    with    covetous 


262  ran  younq  adventurer;  or, 

eyes  at  the  horses  ridden  by  Scott  and  the  boy» 
and  they  had  already  made  up  their  minds  to 
seize  them  also. 

"  The  white  man  is  a  magician,"  said  the 
interpreter.  "  He  has  bewitched  the  horse.  The 
horse  is  ours.     He  has   always  belonged  to  us." 

"It's  no  use,  Tom,"  said  Scott.  "They  are 
bound  to  keep  Dan,  and  I  don't  see  how  we 
can  help  it.  We  had  better  give  him  up,  and 
get  away  if  we  can.  All  the  same,  the  fellow 
is   an   outrageous   liar." 

He  spoke  in  a  low  voice,  and  the  interpreter 
though  listening  attentively,  did  not  quite  catch  what 
was  said. 

"I  guess  you  are  right,"  said  Tom. 

Scott  turned  to  the  interpreter. 

"  Well,  if  you  think  it  is  yours,  squire,  I  reckon 
you  will  keep  it.  So  we'll  say  good-morning, 
and  go." 

He  pulled  the  rein,  but  the  Indian  at  hi* 
bridle  did  not  let  go. 

"Good-morning,  gentlemen,"  said  Scott.  "We 
are  going." 


Tom's  trip  across  the  plains.  269 

44  White  man  must  stay,"  said  the  Indian  In- 
terpreter, decisively. 

•'Why?"  demanded  Scott,  impatiently. 

"He  has  tried  to  steal  Indian's  horse,"  said  the 
wily  savage. 

"  Well,  by  gosh ;  that's  turning  the  tables  with 
a  vengeance,"  ejaculated  Scott.  "  They're  rather 
ahead  of  white  rogues,  Tom.  Will  you  let  the 
boy  go?"  he  asked. 

"  White  boy  stay,  too,"  answered  the  interpreter, 
after  a  brief  reference  to  the  leader  of  the  Indian 
party. 

"Tom,"  said  Scott,  rapidly,  and  not  appearing 
to  be  excited,  lest  his  excitement  should  lead  to 
suspicion,  "none  of  them  are  mounted.  Lash  your 
horse,  and  tear  from  the  grasp  of  the  man  that 
holds  him ;  then  follow  me.  It  is  our  only 
chance." 

Tom's  heart  beat  rapidly.  He  knew  that  all  his 
nerve  was  called  for ;    but  he  did  not  falter. 

"  Give  the  signal,"  he  said. 

"One,  two,  three!"  said  Scott,  rapidly.  Simul- 
taneously  both   lashed   their   horses.      The   startled 


264  THE    TOUNQ   ADVENTURER;    OR, 

animals  sprang  forward.  The  grips  of  the  Indians, 
who  were  not  suspecting  any  attempt  at  escape, 
were  already  relaxed,  and  before  they  were  fully 
aware  of  what  was  intended  our  two  friends  were 
galloping  away. 


TOM'S    TRIP  ACROSS    TBB    PLAINS.  26£ 


CHAPTER  XXIX 


A    RACE    FOR    LIFE. 


The  Indians  were  taken  by  surprise.  They  so 
outnumbered  their  intended  captives  that  they  had 
not  anticipated  an  attempt  at  escape.  But  they 
had  no  intention  of  losing  their  prey.  There  was 
&  howl  of  surprise  and  disappointment ;  then  they 
sprang  for  their  horses,  and,  with  little  delay,  were 
on  the  track  of  our  two  friends. 

The  delay  was  small,  but  .it  was  improved  by 
Scott  and  Tom.  Pressing  their  animals  to  their 
highest  speed  they  gained  a  lead  of  several  hun- 
dred feet  before  their  savage  pursuers  had  fairly 
started;  It  was  well  that  Tom  was  a  good  rider, 
or  he  might  not  have  been  able  to  keep  his  seat. 
In  fact,  he  had  never  ridden  so  rapidly  before : 
but  he  felt  that  he  was  riding  for  his  life,  and 
was  only  anxious  to  ride  faster.  Scott  had  felt 
a    little    anxious    on    this    point  :    but    his    anxiety 


266  THE    YOUNO   ADVENTURER ;    OB, 

vauished   when    he   saw  how   easily   and    fearlessly 
his  boy-companion  kept  at  his  side. 

•'Well  done,  Tom!"  he  said,  as  they  flew  over 
the  prairie.  "  Keep  up  this  pace,  and  we  will 
escape  yet." 

"I  can  do  it,  if  my  horse  holds  out,"  returned 
Tom,  briefly. 

Scott  looked  over  his  shoulder,  and,  brave  man 
as  he  was,  it  almost  made  him  shudder.  The 
whole  party  of  Indians  was  on  his  track.  He 
could  see  their  dusky  faces,  distorted  by  wrath, 
and  the  longing  for  a  savage  revenge.  He  knew 
that  Tom  and  he  had  little  to  hope  for  if  they 
were  caught.  Fortunately  their  horses  were  strong 
and  fleet,  and  not  likely  to  break  down. 

"Ride  for  your  life,  Tom!"  he  shouted.  "They 
will  show  us  no  mercy  if  they  catch  us." 

"  All  right,  Mr.  Scott ! "  said  Tom,  his  face 
flushed,  and  panting  with  excitement.  If  he  had 
not  felt  that  so  much  depended  upon  it;  if  he 
could  have  thrust  out  from  his  mind  the  sense  of 
the    awful    peiil    in    which    he    stood,  —  he   would 


T(AfS    TRIP    ACROSS    THE    PLAINS.  267 

have  enjoyed  the  furious  pace  at  which  his  horse 
was  canning  him. 

The  horses  ridden  by  the  Indians  were  not  equal 
in  speed  or  endurance  to  those  which  the  two 
friends  bestrode.  They  were  fresher  indeed,  but 
they  did  not  make  up  for  the  difference  between 
them.  There  was  one  exception,  however:  Dan, 
the  stolen  horse,  was  not  only  equal  to  either  of 
their  horses,  but  had  the  advantage  of  being 
fresher.  This,  after  a  while,  began  to  tell.  It  was 
ridden  by  a  young  Indian  brave,  a  brother  of  the 
leader.  Soon  he  drew  avfay  from  his  companions, 
and,  yard  by  yard,  lessened  the  distance  between 
himself  and  the  pursued.  At  the  end  of  three 
miles  he  was  close  upon  them,  and  at  least  fifty 
rods  in  advance  of  his  comrades.  Scott  saw  this 
in  one  of  hi3  backward  glances. 

"Tom,"  said  he,  "the  redskin  on  Dan  is  over- 
hauling us." 

"Will  he  catch  us?" 

"  I  mean  to  catch  him,"  said  Scott,  coolly. 

Tom  did  not  need  to  ask  for  an  explanation. 
6cott   wheeled   round,  took  hasty  but  accurate  aim 


268  the  young  adventurer;  om, 

at  the  Indian,  and  fired.  The  hapless  warrior 
reeled  in  his  saddle,  loosed  his  hold  of  the  reins, 
and  fell  to  the  ground,  while  his  horse,  continuing 
in  his  course,  his  pace  accelerated  bj'  fright,  soon 
galloped  alongside  of  Scott.  There  was  a  howl 
of  rage  from  the  main  body  of  Indians,  who  saw 
the  fate  of  their  comrade,  without  being  able  to 
help  him. 

"Now,  Tom,  ride  as  you  never  rode  before!" 
shouted  Scott.  "  We  will  circumvent  those  Indian 
devils  yet,  and  bring  Dan  safe  into  camp.  Come 
along,  Dan,  old  fellow ;   you're   doing  nobly." 

Dan  recognized  the  familiar  voice.  He  entered 
into  the  spirit  of  the  race,  and,  relieved  from  the 
weight  of  his  rider,  dashed  forward  with  increased 
speed,  till  he  led,  and  Scott  and  Tom  were  forced 
to  follow. 

The  Indians  were  mad  with  rage.  Their  com- 
rade had  received  a  fatal  wound.  They  saw  the 
round  hole  in  his  breast,  from  which  the  life- 
blood  was  gushing,  and  they  thirsted  for  vengeance. 

Should  two  pale-faces,  one  of  them  a  boy, 
escape   from    them  ?     That   would    be    a    disgrace. 


IVAfS    TRIP   ACROSS    TBK    PLAINS.  269 

indeed ;  the  blood  of  their  brother  called  for 
blood   in   return. 

Could  they  have  inspired  their  horses  with  the 
same  spirit  which  animated  themselves,  they  might, 
perhaps,  have  overtaken  their  intended  captives ; 
but,  happily  for  our  two  friends,  the  horses  were 
less  interested  than  their  riders. 

The  danger  was  well-nigh  over.  It  was  scarcely 
two  miles  to  the  camp.  There  they  would  be 
so  reinforced  that  the  Indians  would  not  venture 
an  attack.  That  was  the  goal  they  had  in  view. 
Already  they  could  see  in  the  distance  the  wagon- 
train,  ready  for  a  start.  They  were  surely  safe 
now.  But  at  this  unlucky  moment  Tom's  horse 
stumbled.  The  motion  was  so  rapid  that  he  could 
not  retain  his  seat.  He  was  thrown  over  the 
horse's  head,  and  lay  stunned  and  insensible  upon 
the  ground.  His  horse  kept  on  his  way  to  the 
camp. 


270  THE    TOUNQ   AJiVBNTVRRR;    OR. 


CHAPTER     XXX. 

TOM    BECOMES   AN    INDIAN   BY   ADOPTION. 

Scott  did  not  immediately  notice  Tom's  mis- 
hap. The  boy  had  shown  himself  so  good  a 
rider  that  such  an  accident  had  not  occurred  to 
him  as  likely  to  happen.  When  he  did  look 
back  there  was  already  a  considerable  distance 
between  them.  In  fact,  Tom  lay  midway  between 
the   Indians   and   himself. 

What  was   he   to  do? 

If  he  returned  there  was  no  hope  of  rescuing 
Tom ;  and  he  would  infallibly  fall  into  the  hands 
of  the  Indian  pursuers.  In  that  case  his  fat© 
was  sealed.  He  had  killed  an  Indian  warrior, 
and  his  life  would  pay  the  forfeit.  By  going  on 
he  could  head  a  rescuing  party  from  the  camp. 
His  heart  ached  for  Tom.  It  was  hard  to  leave 
him  in  the  hands  of  the  savage  foe ;  but  Tom 
was   a   boy,   and    there   was    hope    that    he   would 


TOM'S    TRIP  ACROSS    THE   PLAINS.  271 

be    spared;    so    he    felt    that    it    was    better    to 
continue   his   flight. 

There    was    a    shout    of    fierce    joy    when    the 
Indians    saw  Tom's    fall.     They   would    have    pre- 
ferred  to  capture    Scott,   for  he  it   was  who    had 
killed  their  comrade;  but  they  were  glad  to  have 
one   prisoner.     They  reined    up    their   horses,    and 
halted  beside  the  still  insensible  boy.     They  held 
a   brief  consultation,   and   decided   not  to  continue 
the    pursuit.     They    could    see    the    encampment, 
which   Scott  was    sure    to  reach  before    he    could 
be    overtaken.     They    could    not    tell    the    number 
of   the    party  to  which    he    belonged;    but,   being 
few  in  numbers  themselves,   the  risk  would  be    a 
hazardous  one.     They  decided  to  retire  with  their 
prisoner.     Tom   was   lifted  to  a   seat  in    front    of 
one  of  the  party,  and  they  rode  leisurely  back. 

This  was  the  position  in  which  our  hero  found 
himself  when  he  roused  from  his  stupor.  One 
glance  revealed  to  him  the  whole.  His  heart 
sank  within  him.  They  might  kill  him.  Remem- 
bering the  ghastly  sights  he  had  seen  on  his  trip 
across  the  plains,   he  thought    it  likely  tUt  they 


272  trb   youno  adventurkr;  ok. 

would.  Life  was  sweet  to  Tom.  To  what  boy 
oe  sixteen  is  it  not?  It  seemed  hard  to  be  cut 
off  in  the  threshold  of  an  active  career,  and  by 
savage  hands.  But  there  was  an  additional  pang 
in  the  thought  that  now  he  would  be  unable  to 
help  his  father.  The  result  of  his  plan  would 
only  be  to  impose  an  additional  burden  upon  the 
modest  home  which  his  father  found  it  so  hard 
to  keep  up.  Tom  sighed ;  and,  for  the  first  time 
in   his    life,   he  felt  discouraged. 

lie  looked  about  him,  6cauning  the  dark,  grave 
faces,  and  read  no  hope  or  encouragement  in  any. 
Finally  the  Indians  came  to  a  halt  at  their  old 
camping-ground,  and  Tom  was  lifted  from  the 
horse.  He  was  placed  upon  the  ground,  in  the 
centre  of  the  group.  Then  followed  a  consultation. 
From  the  glances  directed  towards  him  Tom  un- 
derstood that  he  was  the  subject  of  deliberation. 
In   fact,    his   fate   was  being   decided. 

It  was  certainly  a  trying  ordeal  for  our  young 
hero.  He  was  not  sure  of  half  an  hour's  life. 
An  unfavorable  decision  might  be  followed  by 
Immediate     execution.      Tom     felt    that    his     best 


TOM" 3    TRIP  ACROSS    THE   PLAINS.  273 

course  was  to  remain  perfectly  passive.  He  could 
not  understand  what  was  said ;  out  we  are  able 
to  acquaint  the  reader  with  the  general  purport 
of  the   conference. 

Several  of  the  Indians  favored  immediate  death. 

"  Our  brother's  blood  calls  for  vengeance,"  thej 
said.     "  The   white   boy   must  die." 

"The  boy  did  not  kill  him,"  said  others.  "It 
was  the  white  warrior  who  spilled  our  brother's 
blood.     He   must   be   pursued   and   slain." 

"What,  then,  shall  be  done  with  the  boy? 
Shall  he   go?" 

"  No ;  we  will  keep  him.  He  has  strong  limbs* 
We  will  adopt  him  into  our  tribe.  He  will  make 
a  brave   warrior." 

"He  shall  be  my  brother,"  said  the  chief.  "I 
will  take  him  in  place  of  my  brother  who  is 
dead." 

There   was    a    low   murmur    of    approval.     Even 

those  who  had  first  recommended   the   infliction   of 

death  seemed  to  have   changed   their  minds.     They 

looked    at   the   boy   as   he   lay   stretched   out   upon 

he    ground.     He  was   stout,    comely,  and   strongly 
la 


274  the  touno  adventurer;  or, 

made.  He  had  proved  that  he  was  an  admirable 
rider.  If  he  should  join  them  he  would  grow 
up  into  a  warrior  who  would  do  credit  to  their 
tribe. 

So  the  matter  was  settled.  The  only  thing  that 
remained  was  to  acquaint  the  prisoner  with  the 
decision. 

The  interpreter  approached  Tom,  and  said, 
"  White  boy,  you  are  our  captive.  Why  should 
we   not  kill  you?" 

"You  can  if  you  wish,"  answered  Tom;  "but 
why  should  you  kill  mc?  I  have  done  you  no 
harm." 

"Our  brother  is  killed.  He  lies  dead  upon  the 
plain." 

"I  did  not  kill  him,"   said  Tom. 

"  The  white  boy  speaks  truth.  He  did  not 
kill  our  brother,  but  his  white  friend  took  his 
life." 

"  You  ought  not  to  kill  me  for  that,"  said 
Tom,  gathering  courage,  for  he  inferred  he  was 
to  live. 

"The    white    boy    speaks    truth,    and    therefore 


TOM'S    TRIP  ACROSS    THE   PLAINS.  275 

he  shall  live,  but  he  must  join  us.  He  must  live 
with  us,   hunt  with   us,   and   fight   for  us." 

"  You  want  me  to  become  an  Indian ! "  ejac- 
ulated  Tom. 

"  We  will  take  you  in  place  of  the  warrior 
that  is   gone,"    said    the   interpreter. 

Tom  looked  thoughtful.  He  did  not  enjoy  the 
prospect  before  him,  but  it  was,  at  all  events, 
better  than  death.  While  there  was  life  there 
was  hope  of  escape.  He  concluded  to  make  one 
appeal  for  freedom,  and,  if  that  was  denied,  to 
accept    the    proposal. 

"  I  have  a  father  and  mother  far  away,"  he 
said;  "I  have  brothers  and  a  sister,  who  will 
mourn  for  me.  My  father  is  poor ;  he  needs  my 
help.     Let  me   go  back   to  them." 

The  interpreter  communicated  Tom's  words  to 
his  companions,  but  it  was  easy  to  see  that  they 
were  not  favorably  received.  The  original  advo- 
cates of  the  death  penalty  looked  at  our  hero 
with  hostile  eyes,  and  he  saw  that  he  had  mad« 
a   mistake. 

"  The   white   boy   must    become    one   of    us ;   h* 


276  THE    YOUNG   ADVENTURER;    Oil, 

must  take  our  brother's  place,  or  he  must  die," 
said   the   interpreter. 

Tom  very  sensibly  concluded  that  it  would  be  bet- 
ter to  live  with  the  Indians  than  to  be  killed, 
and  signified  his  acceptance  of  the  offer.  Upon 
this  the  Indians  formed  a  circle  about  him,  and 
broke  into  a  monotonous  chant,  accompanied  with 
sundry  movements  of  the  limbs,  which  appeared 
to  be  their  way  of  welcoming  him  into  their 
tribe. 

It  seemed  like  a  dream  to  Tom.  He  found  it 
very  hard  to  realize  his  position,  so  unexpect- 
edly had  he  been  placed  in  it.  He  could  not 
help  wondering  what  the  family  at  home  would 
say  when  they  should  learn  that  he  had  joined 
an   Indian   tribe   far  beyond  the   Mississippi. 


TOM'S    TRIP  ACROSS    THE    PLAINS.  277 


CHAPTER    XXXI. 

TOM   GIVES   A   MAGICAL   SOIREE. 

Tom  had  no  intention  of  passing  his  life  with 
the  Indians.  In  joining  them  he  submitted  to 
necessity.  It  gave  him  a  respite,  and  a  chance 
to  devise  plans  of  escape.  He  understood  very 
well  that,  if  he  made  the  attempt  and  failed,  his 
life  would  be  the  forfeit.  But  Tom  determine*! 
to  take  the  risk,  though  life  was  sweet  to  him ; 
but  of  course  he  must  wait  for  a  favorable  op- 
portunity. 

There  was  a  chance  of  his  being  rescued  by 
his  party,  but  this  chance  was  diminished  by  the 
decision  of  his  Indian  captors  to  break  camp, 
and  proceed  in  a  northerly  direction,  while  the 
course  of  the  emigrant  train  was  of  course  west- 
ward. Little  time  was  wasted.  The  Indiaoa 
mounted  their  horses,  Tom  being  put  on  tlw 
horse   of    the   fallen    brave.     The    leader   put   him- 


278  THE    YOUNG   ADVENTURER;    OR, 

self  at  the  head,  and  Tom  was  placed  in  the 
centre,  surrounded  by  Indians.  It  was  evident 
that  they  were  not  willing  to  trust  him  yet. 
They   meant   to   afford    him   no  chance   of    escape. 

As  the  only  one  of  the  band  with  whom  Tom 
could  converse  was  the  interpreter,  who  rode  at 
the  head  with  the  chief,  he  rode  in  silence.  The 
Indians  on  either  side  of  him  never  turned  their 
heads  towards  him,  but,  grave  and  impassive, 
rode   on,  looking   straight   before   them. 

"  This  is  easier  than  walking,"  thought  Tom ; 
"but  I  would  a  hundred  times  rather  walk  with 
Scott,  or  Miles,  than  ride  in  my  present  company.** 

They  rode  for  three  hours,  and  then  dismounted 
for  the  mid-day  rest. 

Nothing  had  been  seen  or  heard  of  his  old  friends, 
and  that  made  Tom  anxious  and  thoughtful. 

"They  have  gone  on  without  me,  leaving  me 
to  my  fate,"  he  said  to  himself,  and  the  reflection 
gave  him  a  pang.  He  had  been  on  such  pleasant 
and  friendly  terms  with  the  whole  party,  that 
this  cold  desertion  (as  it  appeared)  wounded 
him.      The    young     are     more    sensitive     in     such 


tom's  trip  across  the  plains.  279 

eases  than  their  elders.  As  we  grow  older  we 
cease  to  expect  too  much  of  those  whose  interests 
differ  from  our  own. 

Tom  felt  that  his  fate  was  more  and  more 
bound  up  with  the  Indians.  If  some  days  should 
pass  before  he  could  escape  he  would  find 
himself  in  an  embarrassing  condition.  Suppose  he 
got  away  safely,  he  would  find  himself  in  a 
pathless  plain,  without  provisions,  and  with  no 
other  guide  than  the  sun.  If  he  should  meet 
with  no  party  he  would  die  of  starvation.  The 
prospect   seemed   by   no   means   bright. 

I  am  bound  to  say  that,  for  a  time,  Tom,  in 
spite  of  his  bright,  sanguine  temperament,  was 
greatly   depressed ;  but  his   spirits   were   elastic. 

"  I  won't  give  up  to  despair,"  he  said  to 
himself.  "  Something  tells  me  that  I  shall  come 
out  right.     I   must  wait   and  watch   my  chances." 

Upon  this  his  face  brightened,  and  his  air, 
which  had  been  listless,  became  more  animated 
The  Indians  glanced  at  him  with  grave  approval. 
They  concluded  that  he  was  becoming  reconciled 
to   living   among   them. 


280  the  tovno  adventurer;  or. 

When  the  simple  mid-dajT  meal  was  piaced 
upon  the  ground,  and  the  Indians  gathered  around 
it  in  a  sitting  posture,  Tom  followed  their  example, 
and  did  full  justice  to  the  dinner.  In  fact  he 
had  taken  so  much  exercise  that  he  felt  hungry. 
Besides,  he  knew  that  he  must  keep  up  his 
strength,  if  he  wished  to  escape ;  so,  instead  of 
keeping  aloof  in  sullen  dissatisfaction,  he  dis- 
played  a  "  healthy   appetite." 

After  resting  several  hours  the  Indians  resumed 
their  journey,  but  did  not  travel  far.  They  were 
in  no  hurry.  They  had  no  long  journey  to  make 
across  the  continent.  They  only  wished  to  go 
far  enough  to  be  safe  from  attack  by  a  rescuing 
party  of  Tom's  friends.  Again  they  encamped, 
and  this  time,  from  the  preparations  made,  he 
understood   that   it   was   for   the   night. 

One  thing  Tom  could  not  help  noticing,  —  the 
silence  of  these  red  children  of  the  plains. 
They  seemed  to  make  no  conversation  with  each 
other,  except  on  necessary  matters,  and  then  their 
words  were  few  in  number,  replies  aeing  often 
made   in   a  monosyllable. 


TOM'S    TRIP  ACROSS    THB    PLAINS.  281 

"  They  don't  seem  very  social,"  thought  Tom. 
"  I  sii])pose  they  have  nothing  to  talk  about.  I 
wonder  if  the  squaws  ever  have  sewing-circles. 
If  they  have,  they  can't  he  much  like  Yankee 
women   if  they  don't  find  plenty  to  talk  about." 

The  silence  became  oppressive.  Tom  would  have 
liked  to  take  a  walk,  but  he  knew  that  this  would 
not  be  allowed.  It  would  be  thought  that  he 
wanted  to  escape.  Yet  to  sit  mute  hour  after 
hour  seemed  to  Tom  intolerably  stupid.  A  bold 
idea  came  to  him.  He  would  try  to  afford  them 
some  amusement. 

Accordingly,  he  said  to  the  interpreter,  "  Shal 
I  show  you  a  trick?" 

The  interpreter  communicated  the  proposal  to 
his  comrades,  and  permission  was  granted. 

Tom  took  from  his  pocket  a  penny.  He  ex- 
plained to  the  interpreter  that  he  would  swallow 
the  penny,  and  make  it  come  out  at  his  nose,  — 
a  common  boy's  trick.  The  Indians,  to  whom 
this  also  was  communicated,  looked  curious  and 
incredulous,  and  Tom  proceeded. 

Now  I  am   not  going   to   explain   how  Tom   ao« 


282  tbb  young  adventurer;  OB, 

complished  the  illusion.  That  I  leave  to  the 
ingenuity  of  my  boy-readers  to  discover.  It  is 
enough  to  say  that  he  succeeded,  to  the  great 
amazement  of  his  copper-colored  spectators.  There 
was  a  chorus  of  Ughs !  and  Tom  was  requested  to 
repeat  the  trick. 

He  did  so,  the  Indians  being  as  puzzled  as 
before. 

Now,  Indians  are,  in  many  respects,  like  chil- 
dren. They  displayed,  on  this  occasion,  a  childish 
curiosity  and  wonder  that  amused  Tom.  They 
insisted  on  his  opening  his  mouth,  to  ascertain 
whether  there  was  any  hidden  avenue  from  his 
mouth  to  his  nose,  and  found,  to  their  surprise, 
that  his  mouth  was  like  their  own.  Then  one  of 
the  Indians  volunteered  to  try  the  experiment, 
and  nearly  choked  himself  with  the  penny,  which, 
it  must  be  remembered,  was  one  of  the  large, 
old-fashioned,  copper  coins,  in  circulation  before 
the  war.  It  cannot  be  said  that  he  turned  black 
in  the  face,  but  he  certainly  gasped,  and  rolled 
his  eyes  in  a  manner  that  alarmed  his  friends, 
and    they    instinctively    looked    to    Tom    for    help. 


TO£fS    TRIP  ACROSS    THE   PLAINS.  283 

Tom  was  equal  to  the  emergency.  He  rose  hastily, 
slapped  the  Indian  forcibly  on  the  back,  and  the 
cent  was  ejected  from  his  mouth. 

There  was  another  chorus  of  Ughs  !  and  it  waa 
evident  that  Tom  had  risen  vastly  in  their  opinion. 
They  looked  upon  him  as  a  white  magician,  and 
even  were  a  little  afraid  that  he  might  work  them 
injury  in  some  way.  But  Tom's  frank,  good- 
humored  manner  reassured  them.  They  asked  him, 
through  the  interpreter,  if  he  could  perform  any 
other  tricks.  Tom  knew  a  few,  that  he  had  learned 
out  of  an  old  tattered  book  which  had  fallen  in 
his  way  at  home ;  and  such  as  he  had  facilities 
for  he  attempted,  to  the  great  delight  of  his  new 
friends.  Tom  was  becoming  popular ;  and  even 
those  who  had  at  first  recommended  death  were 
glad  that  his  life  had  been  spared. 


284  THE  touno  advbntumbr;  om% 


CHAPTER   XXXTI. 


TOM  8    ESCAPE. 


Night  came,  and  the  Indian  camp  was  hushed 
and  still.  It  was  long  before  Tom  went  to  sleep. 
Generally  he  was  a  good  sleeper,  but  his  mind  at 
present  was  too  active  for  slumber.  "  How  long 
is  this  strange  life  going  to  last?"  he  asked 
himself.  "  How  long  am  I  to  be  exiled  from 
civilization?"  This  was  more  easily  asked  than 
answered. 

When  he  slept,  his  sleep  was  troubled.  He 
dreamed  that  Lawrence  Peabody  was  a  captive, 
and  that  the  chief  was  about  to  scalp  him,  when 
suddenly  he  awoke.  He  could  not  at  first  tell 
where  he  was,  but  a  glance  revealed  the  dis- 
heartening  truth. 

He  must  have  slept  several  hours,  for  the  gray 
dawn  was  creeping  up  the  sky,  heralding  sunrise. 
He    leaned    on    his    elbow,    and    bent   a   searching 


TOM'S    TRIP   ACROSS    THE    PLAMS.  285 

glance  upon  his  companions.  They  were  stretched 
motionless  upon  the  ground,  hushed  in  the  in- 
sensibility of  sleep.  "  Are  they  asleep  ? "  Tom 
asked  himself.  He  satisfied  himself  that  the 
slumber  was  genuine,  and  there  sprang  up  in  his 
heart  the  wild  hope  of  escape.  A  few  rods  dis- 
tant the  horses  were  fastened.  Could  he  unfasten 
and  mount  one  before  any  of  them  awakened? 

Tom's  heart  beat  quick  with  excitement.  He 
knew  that  he  ran  a  fearful  risk ;  but  he  made  up 
his  mind  that  now  was  his  time. 

Slowly,  and  without  noise,  he  raised  himself  to 
his  feet.  As  he  stood  erect,  he  closely  scanned 
the  sleepers.  There  was  not  a  motion.  With 
stealthy  steps  he  crept  to  the  horses.  He  selected 
the  one  he  had  ridden  the  day  before,  and  un- 
loosed him.  The  animal  gave  a  slight  whinny, 
and  Tom's  heart  was  in  his  throat.  But  no  one 
stirred.  He  quickly  mounted  the  animal,  and 
walked  him  for  a  few  rod&,  then  gave  him  a  loose 
rein,  and  was  soon  speeding  away.  Just  then  the 
sun  rose,  and  this  guided  him  in  the  direction  he 
was  to  take. 


286  THE    TOUNO   ADVENTURER;    OR) 

He  had  got  a  mile  away,  when,  looking  back 
through  the  clear  air,  he  saw,  to  his  dismay, 
that  his  flight  had  been  discovered.  The  Indiana 
'were  mounting  their  horses. 

"I  must  gallop  for  life,"  thought  Tom.  "They 
will   kill  me   if  they  catch   me." 

He  urged  on  his  horse  by  all  the  means  in 
his  power.  Luckily  it  was  one  of  the  two  fleet- 
est horses  the  Indians  possessed,  the  other  being 
ridden   by   their  leader. 

Tom's  hope  was  sustained  by  this  fact,  which 
he   had  proof  of  the  day   before. 

Rather  to  his  surprise  he  did  not  feel  as  much 
frightened  as  he  anticipated.  He  felt  excited, 
and  this  was  his  prominent  feeling.  Probably  h« 
felt  like   a   soldier   in   the  heat  of   battle. 

But  the  odds  against  Tom  were  terrible,  and 
his  chance  of  escape  seemed  very  slender.  Be- 
hind him  was  a  band  of  savages,  accustomed  to 
the  plains,  strong,  wily,  enduring,  and  persistent. 
He  was  new  to  the  plains,  and  a  mere  boy. 
Moreover,  he  did  not  know  where  to  find  his 
part}7.     There  were   no  sign-boards   upon   the   pr«« 


TOM'S    TRIP  ACROSS    THE   PLAINS.  267 

ries,  but  a  vast,  uniform  expanse  stretching  far- 
ther than  the  eye  could  reach. 

Inch  by  inch,  foot  by  foot,  the  Indians  gained 
Bpou  him,  the  leader  considerabty  in  advance. 

Even  if  he  alone  were  to  overtake  Tom,  our 
hero  would  of  course  be  no  match  for  a  strong, 
full-grown  warrior,  more  especially  as  he  had  no 
weapon  with  him.  By  some  mischance  he  had 
left  it   in   the  camp. 

Tom's  heart  began  to  fail  him.  His  horse 
could  not  always,  perhaps  not  long,  keep  up  his 
headlong  speed.  Then  would  follow  capture,  and 
a   painful   death. 

"  It's  hard,"  thought  Tom,  sadly,  — "  hard  for  me 
and  for  my  dear  parents  and  brothers  and  sis- 
ters.    Why   did   I   ever   leave   home  ? " 

He  turned  in  the  saddle,  and  saw  the  Indian 
leader  evidently  nearer.  But  he  aaw  something 
else.  He  saw  a  herd  of  buffaloes,  thousands  in 
number,  impetuously  rushing  across  the  plain  from 
the  west.  Their  speed  was  great.  They  seemed 
to  be  blindly   following   their   leader. 

"  Good    heavens ! "     ejaculated     Tom,    in     great 


288  TBS    YOUNG   ADVENTURER;    OR, 

excitement ;  "  the  Indians  are  in  their  path.  If 
Uie  herd  does  not  stop  they  will  be  destroyed." 
The  Indians  were  fully  aware  of  their  great 
danger.  They  knew  the  plains  well,  and  the 
terrible,  resistless  power  of  these  wild  herds 
when  once  on  the  march.  They  no  longer  thought 
of  Tom,  but  of  their  own  safety.  But  the  buf- 
faloes were  close  at  hand.  They  were  sweeping 
on  like  a  whirlwind.  The  Indians  could  only 
ride  on,  and  trust  to  clear  them.  But  their 
pathway  was  wide.  It  reached  to  within  a  fur- 
long of  where  Tom  was  riding.  They  never 
paused ;  some  of  the  animals  in  the  advance 
might  have  veered  to  the  right  or  left  on  seeing 
the  Indians,  but  the  pressure  from  behind  pre- 
vented. The  savages  saw  their  fate,  and  it  inspired 
them  with  more  dread  than  an  encounter  with 
white  foes.  Finally  they  halted  in  despair,  and 
their  fate  overtook  them.  Riders  and  steeds  were 
overthrown  as  by  a  flash  of  lightning.  The 
dark,  shaggy  herd  did  not  stop,  but  dashed  on. 
Tom,  in  awe  and  excitement,  halted  his  horse, 
and    watched   the   terrible    sight.       He    could    not 


TOM'S    TRIP   AOROSS    THE   PLBINS.  289 

but   sympathize    with    his   late    companions,  though 
he  knew  they  would  have  taken  his  life. 

The  buffaloes  passed  on,  but  left  no  life  behind 
them.  The  Indians  and  their  horses  were  all  tram- 
pled to  death.     Tom  was  alone  upon  the  plains. 

He  thanked  God  in  his  heart  for  his  self- 
deliverance  ;  though  he  shuddered  at  the  manner 
in  which  it  was  wrought.  He,  too,  had  been 
near  being  overwhelmed,  but,  through  God's  mercy, 
had  escaped. 

But  for  what  had  he  escaped  ?  Unless  he  found 
his  own  party,  or  some  other,  he  would  starve 
to  death,  or  might  fall  into  the  power  of  some 
other  tribe  of  Indians.     He  must  ride  on. 

An  hour  later  he  thought  he  saw  in  the  dis- 
tance a  solitary  horseman.  It  might  be  an  Indian ; 
but  that  was  not  likely,  for  they  generally  trav- 
elled in  numbers.  It  was  more  likely  to  be  a 
white  man.  Any  white  man  would  be  a  friend, 
and  could  guide  him  to  safety,  unless  he  were 
himself  lost.  At  any  rate  there  seemed  but  one 
course   to    follow,    and   that    to    ride    towards    the 

stranger. 

19 


290  TBS    YOUKQ    ADVENTURER;    OR, 

When  Tom  drew  near  his  heart  was  filled  with 
sudden  joy,  for,  in  the  new  arrival,  he  recog- 
nized John  Miles.     Miles  was  no  less  delighted. 

"Tom,  old  boy,"  he  said,  "is  it  you?  How 
did  you  get  away?  I  was  afraid  we  should  never 
see  you  again." 

"I  feared  so  myself,"  said  Tom;  "but  I  have 
been  saved  in  a  wonderful  manner.  Has  the  train 
moved  on?" 

"Do  you  think  we  would  go  on  without  you? 
Not  a  man  was  willing  to  stir  till  you  were 
found.  Even  Peabody,  though  terribly  afraid  of 
falling  into  the  hands  of  the  Indians,  and  losing 
his  scalp,  was  in  favor  of  our  waiting.  The 
boys   are  very  anxious  about  you." 

Tom  heard  this  with  satisfaction.  The  esteem 
of  our  friends  and  associates  is  dear  to  us  all ; 
and  it  is  always  sad  to  think  that  we  may  be 
forgotten  in  absence. 

"  But  you  have  not  told  me  of  your  escape, 
Tom,"  said  Miles.  "  Where  are  the  Indians  who 
captured  you?" 

"  All  dead  ! "  answered  Tom,   solemnly. 


TOM'S    TRIP  ACROSS    T11E   PLAINS.  291 

u  Good  heavens  !     You  don't  mean  to  say  —  " 

"That  I  killed  them?  Oh,  no!  Look  over 
theie  !     Can  you  see  anything?  " 

Miles  looked  earnestly. 

"  I  think  I  see  upon  the  ground  some  men  and 
horses." 

"  It  is  the  Indians.  They  were  pursuing  me  when 
they  were  trampled  to  death  by  a  herd  of  buffaloes." 

"Wonderful!"  ejaculated  Miles.  "I  have  heard 
of  such  things,  but  hardly  believed  in  them." 

"  It  was  a  terrible  sight,"  said  Tom,  soberly. 
"  I  wish  I  could  have  been  saved  in  some  other  way.' 

"  It  was  }'ou  or  they,"  said  Miles,  senten- 
tious])'.    "  It  is  well  as  it  is." 

They  were  warmly  welcomed  at  the  camp.  Tom 
was  looked  upon  as  one  raised  from  the  dead ; 
and  the  particulars  of  his  wonderful  escape  were 
called  for  again  and  again. 

"You  are  sure  they  didn't  scalp  you,  Tom?" 
asked  Mr.  Peabocty. 

"  Feel  and  see,  Mr.  Peabody,"  said  Tom, 
smiling.     "  I  believe  my  hair  is  pretty  firm." 


292  THE   YOUNG    ADVENTURER;    OR, 

"  I  wouldn't  have  been  in  your  shoes  for  all 
the  gold  in  California,"  said  Peabody,  fervently. 

"  I  believe  you,  Mr.  Peabody.  Indeed,  I  think 
I  may  say  that  I  wouldn't  be  placed  in  the  same 
situation   again  for  all  the  gold  in  the  world." 

"Tom,"  said  Scott,  "you  are  bound  to  suc- 
ceed." 

"  What  makes  you  think  so?  " 

"  You  have  shown  so  much  pluck  and  coolnew 
that  you  are  sure  to  get  along." 

"  I  hope  so,  I  am  sure,  for  my  father's  sake." 

Some  weeks  later  a  wagon  train  was  seen 
slowly  climbing  a  mountain  pass  on  the  crest 
of  the  Sierra  Nevada  Mountains.  They  reached 
the  summit,  and,  looking  eagerly  to  the  west- 
ward, saw  the  land  of  gold  at  their  feet.  They 
had  been  months  in  reaching  it.  Now  it  lay 
spread   before   them,   glorious   in   the   sunlight. 

"  Yonder  lies  the  promised  land,  my  lad,"  said 
Ferguson.  "  It  remains  to  be  seen  whether  we 
shall  be  rewarded  for  our  long  and  toilsome 
journey." 


TOM'S    TRIP  ACROSS    THE  PLAINS.  293 

"  If  hard  work  will  win  success  I  mean  to 
succeed,"   said   Torn,    stoutly. 

"I  don't  see  any  gold,"  said  Lawrence 
Peabody,   with   a   disappointed   air. 

"Did  you  think  it  grew  on  trees,  Mr.  Peabody?" 
asked   Scott,    sarcastically. 

"I  should  like  to  stop  a  week  at  a  first-class 
hotel  before  getting  to  work,"  remarked  Peabody. 
"  I   don't   like  roughing   it." 

"  We  will  leave  you  at  the  first  hotel  of  that 
sort  we  meet.  Now,  boys,  gather  about  me,  and 
give   three   rousing  cheers    for   California." 

Thus  spoke  Miles,  aud  swung  his  hat.  The 
cheers  were  given  with  a  will,  and  the  wagon 
train  commenced   the   descent. 

Those  of  my  readers  who  would  like  to  learn 
how  Tom  and  his  friends  fared  in  the  land  of 
gold  will  find  their  further  adventures  chronicled 
in  the   second   volume  of    this   series,  — 

The    Young    Pioneer  ; 

OR, 

Tom   Nelson    in    California. 


HORATIO  ALGER,  JR. 


The  enormous  sales  of  the  books  of  Horatio  Alger, 
Jr.,  show  the  greatness  of  his  popularity  among  the 
boys,  and  prove  that  he  is  one  of  their  most  favored 
writers.  I  am  told  that  more  than  half  a  million  copies 
altogether  have  been  sold,  and  that  all  the  large  circu- 
lating libraries  in  the  country  have  several  complete 
Bets,  of  which  only  two  or  three  volumes  are  ever 
on  the  shelves  at  one  time.  If  this  is  true,  what  thou- 
sands and  thousands  of  boys  have  read  and  are  reading 
Mr.  Alger's  books!  His  peculiar  style  of  stories,  often 
imitated  but  never  equaled,  have  taken  a  hold  upon  the 
young  people,  and,  despite  their  similarity,  are  eagerly 
read  as  soon  as  they  appear. 

Mr.  Alger  became  famous  with  the  publication  of 
that  undying  book,  "Ragged  Dick,  or  Street  Life  in  New 
York."  It  was  his  first  book  for  young  people,  and  its 
success  was  so  great  that  he  immediately  devoted  him- 
self to  that  kind  of  writing.  It  was  a  new  and  fertile 
field  for  a  writer  then,  and  Mr.  Alger's  treatment  of  it 
at  once  caught  the  fancy  of  the  boys.  "Ragged  Dick" 
first  appeared  in  1868,  and  ever  since  then  it  has  been 
selling  steadily,  until  now  it  is  estimated  that  about 
200,000  copies  of  the  series  have  been  sold. 

— "Pleasant  Hours  for  Boys  and  Girls." 


A  writer  for  boys  should  have  an  abundant  sym- 
pathy with  them.  He  should  be  able  to  enter  into  their 
plans,  hopes,  and  aspirations.  He  should  learn  to  look 
Upon  life  as  they  do.  Boys  object  to  be  written  down  to. 
A  boy's  heart  opens  to  the  man  or  writer  who  under- 
stands him. 
■—From  "Writing  Stories  for  Boys,"  by  Horatio  Alger,  Jr. 


RAGGED  DICK   SERIES. 
6  vols.  By  Horatio  Alger,  Jr.  $6.00 

Ragged  Dick.  Rough  and  Ready. 

Fame  and  Fortune.  Ben  the  Luggage  Boy. 

Mark  the  Match  Boy.  Rufus  and  Rose. 

TATTERED  TOM  SERIES— First    Series. 
4  vols.  By  Horatio  Alger,  Jr.  $4.00 

Tattered  Tom.  Phil  the  Fiddler. 

Paul  the  Peddler.  Slow  and  Sure. 

TATTERED  TOM  SERIES— Second  Series. 

4  vols.  $4.00 

Julius.  Sam's  Chance. 

The  Young  Outlaw.  The  Telegraph  Boy. 

CAMPAIGN  SERIES. 

3  vols.  By  Horatio  Alger,  Jr.  $3.00 
Prank's  Campaign.                 Charlie  Codman's  Cruise. 

Paul  Prescott's  Charge. 

LUCK  AND  PLUCK  SERIES— First  Series. 

4  vols.  By  Horatio  Alger,  Jr.  $4.00 
Luck  and  Pluck.                      Strong  and  Steady. 

Sink  or  Swim.  Strive  and  Succeed. 

LUCK  AND  PLUCK  SERIES— Second  Series. 
4  vols.  $4.00 

Try  and  Trust.  Risen  from  the  Ranks. 

Bound  to  Rise.  Herbert  Carter's  Legacy. 

BRAVE  AND   BOLD  SERIES. 
4  vols.  By  Horatio  Alger,  Jr.  $4.00 

Brave  and  Bold.  Shifting  for  Himself. 

Jack's  Ward.  Wait  and  Hope. 

COMPLETE  CATALOG  OF  BEST    BOOKS    FOR    BOYS   AND   GIRLS 
MAILED    ON    APPLICATION    TO   THE    PUBLISHERS 

THE  JOHN  C.  WINSTON  CO..  PHILADELPHIA 


VICTORY  SERIES. 
3  vols.  By  Horatio  Alger,  Jr.  $3.00 

Only  an  Irish  Boy.  Adrift  in  the  City. 

Victor  Vane,  or  the  Young  Secretary. 

FRANK   AND   FEARLESS  SERIES. 
3  vols.  By  Horatio  Alger,  Jr.  $3.00 

Frank  Hunter's  Peril.  Frank  and  Fearless. 

The  Young  Salesman. 

GOOD  FORTUNE   LIBRARY. 
3  vols.  By  Horatio  Alger,  Jr.  $3.00 

Walter  Sherwood's  Probation.    A  Boy's  Fortune. 
The  Young  Bank  Messenger. 

HOW  TO  RISE  LIBRARY. 
3  vols.  By  Horatio  Alger,  Jr.  $3.00 

Jed,  the  Poorhouse  Boy.        Rupert's  Ambition. 
Lester's  Luck. 

COMPLETE  CATALOG   OF   DEST    BOOKS    FOR    BOYS    AND    GIRLS 
MAILED    ON    APPLICATION    TO    THE    PUBLISHERS 

THE  JOHN  C.  WINSTON  CO.,  PHILADELPHIA 


THE  JOHN   C.    WINSTON    CO.'S    POPULAR   JUVENH.ES. 


J.  T.  TROWBRIDGE. 

NEITHER  as  a  writer  does  lie  stand  apart  from  the  great 
currents  of  life  and  select  some  exceptional  phase  or  odd 
combination  of  circumstances.  He  stands  on  the  common, 
level  and  appeals  to  the  universal  heart,  and  all  that  he  sug- 
gests or  achieves  is  on  the  plane  and  in  the  line  of  march  of 
the  great  body  of  humanity. 

The  Jack  Hazard  series  of  stories,  published  in  the  late 
Our  Young  Folks,  and  continued  in  the  first  volume  of  St. 
Nicholas,  under  the  title  of  ' '  Fast  Friends, "  is  no  doubt 
destined  to  hold  a  high  place  in  this  class  of  literature.  The 
delight  of  the  boys  in  them  (and  of  their  seniors,  too)  is 
well  founded.  They  go  to  the  right  spot  every  time.  Trow- 
bridge knows  the  heart  of  a  boy  like  a  book,  and  the  heart 
of  a  man,  too,  and  he  has  laid  them  both  open  in  these  books 
In  a  most  successful  manner.  Apart  from  the  qualities  that 
render  the  series  so  attractive  to  all  young  readers,  they 
liave  great  value  on  account  of  their  portraitures  of  American, 
country  life  and  character.  The  drawing  is  wonderfully 
accurate,  and  as  spirited  as  it  is  true.  The  constable,  Sel- 
lick,  is  an  original  character,  and  as  minor  figures  where  will 
we  find  anything  better  than  Miss  Wansey,  and  Mr.  P.  Pip- 
kin, Esq.  The  picture  of  Mr.  Dink's  school,  too,  is  capital, 
and  where  else  in  fiction  is  there  a  better  nick-name  than 
that  the  boys  gave  to  poor  little  Stephen  Treadwell,  "Step 
Hen,"  as  he  himself  pronounced  his  name  in  an  unfortunate 
moment  when  he  saw  it  in  print  for  the  first  time  in  his  les- 
son in  school. 

On  the  whole,  these  books  are  very  satisfactory,  and 
afford  the  critical  reader  the  rare  pleasure  of  the  works  that 
are  just  adequate,  that  easily  fulfill  themselves  and  accom- 
plish all  they  set  out  to  do. — Scribiier's  Monthly, 


THE  JOHN  C.  WINSTON  CO.'S  POPULAR  JUVENILES. 
JACK  HAZARD  SERIES. 

6  vols.  By  J.  T.  TROWBRIDGE  $7.2$ 

Tack  Hazard  and  His  Fortunes      Doing  His  Best. 
The  Young  Surveyor.  A  Chance  for  Himself. 

Fast  Friends.  Lawrence's  Adventures. 

CHARLES  ASBURY  STEPHENS. 

"This  author  wrote  his  "Camping  Out  Series"  at  the  veiy 
height  of  his  me,ntal  and  physical  powers. 

"We  do  not  wonder  at  the  popularity  of  these  hooks ;  there 
is  a  freshness  and  variety  about  them,  and  an  enthusiasm  in 
the  description  of  sport  and  adventure,  which  even  the  older 
folk  can  hardly  fail  to  share." — Worcester  Spy. 

"The  author  of  the  Camping  Out  Series  is  entitled  to  rank 
as  decidedly  at  the  head  of  what  may  be  called  boys'  litera- 
ture."— Buffalo  Courier. 

CAMPING  OUT  SERIES. 
By  C.  A.  STEPHENS. 
AH  books  in  this  series  are  J2mo.  with  eight  full  page  illustra- 
tions.   Cloth,  extra,  75  cents. 

Camping  Out.     As  Recorded  by  "  Kit." 

"This  book  is  bright,  breezy,  wholesome,  instructive,  and 
stands  above  the  ordinary  boys'  books  of  the  day  by  a  whole 
head  and  shoulders." — The  Christian  Register,  Boston. 

Left  on  Labrador;  or,  The  Cruise  of  the  Schooner  Yacht 

"Curlew."     As  Recorded  by  "Wash." 

"The    perils    of    the    voyagers,    the    narrow    escapes,    their 

strange  expedients,  and  the  fun  and  jollity  when  danger  had 

passed,   will   make  boys   even   unconscious   of  hunger." — New 

Bedford  Mercury. 

Offtothe  Geysers;  or  The  Young  Yachters  in  Iceland.    A» 
Recorded  by  "Wade." 
"It  is  difficult  to  believe  that  Wade  and  Read  and  Kit  and 
Wash    were    not    live    boys,    sailng   up    Hudson    Straits,    and 
reigning  temporarily  over   an    Esquimaux   tribe." — The  Inde- 
pendent, New  York. 

Lynx  Hunting:  From  Notes  by  the  Author  of  "Camping  Out." 
"Of  first  quality  as  a  boys'  book,  and  fit  to  take  its  place 
beside  the  best." — Richmond  Enguirer. 

Fox  Hunting.     As  Recorded  by  "Raed." 

"The  most  spirited  and  entertaining  book  that  has  as  yet 
appeared.  It  overflows  with  incident,  and  is  characterized 
by  dash  and  brilliancy  throughout." — Boston   Gazette. 

On  the  Amazon;  or,  the  Cruise  of  the  "Rambler."    At 
Recorded  by  "Wash." 
"Gives  vivid  pictures  of  Brazilian  adventure  and  scenery." 
— Buffalo  Courier. 


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OVER  100  TITLES  are  now  in  this  Library  and 
all  new  titles  will  be  selected  with  the  same  care  as 
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OUR  AIM  is  to  maintain  the  supremacy  of  these 
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ROUNDABOUT  LIBRARY 

FOR  YOUNG  PEOPLE 

Selected   from   the   works   of   Alger,    Castlemon,    EHis, 
Stephens,  Henty,  Mrs.  Lillie  and  other  writers. 

Price,  per  volume,  $0.75 

Across  Texas.    By  Edward  S.  Ellis. 

Adventures  in  Canada;  or,  Life  in  the  Woods.    By  John 

C.  Geikie. 
Alison's  Adventures.    By  Lucy  C.  Lillie. 
American    Family    Robinson,  The;    or,  The   Adventures 

of  a  Family  Lost  in  the  Great  Desert  of  the  West. 

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Ben's    Nugget;    or,  A   Boy'?  Search  for  a   Fortune.    By 

Horatio  Alger,  Jr. 
Bob  Burton;   or,  the  Young   Ranchman  of  the  Missouri. 

By  Horatio  Alger,  Jr. 
Bonnie    Prince    Charlie;    A  Tale    of   Fontenoy   and   Cul* 

loden.     By  G.  A.  Henty. 
Brave  Billy.     By  Edward  S.  Ellis. 
Brave  Tom;   or,  The  Battle  that  Won.     By  Edward  S. 

Ellis. 
By  England's  Aid;   or,  The  Freeing  of  the  Netherlands 

(1585-1604).    By  G.  A.  Henty. 
By  Pike  and    Dyke;    A  Tale  of  the   Rise   of  the   Dutch 

Republic.     By  G.  A.  Henty. 
By  Right  of  Conquest;   or,  With  Cortez  in  Mexico.     By 

G.  A.  Henty. 
By  Love's  Sweet  Rule.    By  Gabrielle  Emelie  Jackson. 
Cabin    in   the   Clearing,   The.    A  Tale  of  the  Frontier. 

By  Edward  S.  Ellis. 
Camping  Out,  As  Recorded  by  "Kit."  By  C.  A.  Stephens. 
Camp  in  the  Foothills,  The.    By  Harry  Castlemon. 


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Cornet  of  Horse,  The.    A  Tale  of  Marlborough's  Wars. 

By  G.  A.  Henty. 
Cruise  of  the  Firefly.    By  Edward  S.  Ellis. 
Dear   Days,   A   Story   of   Washington    School    Life.     By 

Ada  Mickle. 
Diccon  the    Bold.     A  Story  of  the  Days  of  Columbus. 

By  John  Russell  Coryell. 
Do  and  Dare;  or,  A  Brave  Boy's  Fight  for  Fortune.    By 

Horatio  Alger,  Jr. 
Dog  Crusoe,  The.    A  Tale  of  the  Western  Prairies.    By 

R.  M.  Ballantyne. 
Dog  of  Cotopaxi,  The.    By  Hezekiah  Butterworth. 
Doris  and  Theodora.    By  Margaret  Vandegrift. 
Dr.  Gilbert's   Daughters.     By  Margaret  H.  Matthews. 
Dragon    and    the    Raven,    The;    or,   The    Days   of    King 

Alfred.    By  G.  A.  Henty. 
Elam    Storm,   the   Wolfer;    or,   The    Lost    Nugget.     By 

Harry  Castlemon. 
Elinor  Belden;  or,  The  Step  Brothers.  By  Lucy  C.  Lillie. 
Esther's  Fortune.    By  Lucy  C.  Lillie. 
Floating  Treasure.     By  Harry  Castlemon. 
Four  Little  Indians.    By  Ella  Mary  Coates. 
Family  Dilemma.     By  Lucy  C.  Lillie. 
Floating  Light  of  the  Goodwin  Sands,  The.     By  R.  M. 

Ballantyne. 
For  Honor's  Sake.    By  Lucy  C.  Lillie. 
Four  Boys;   or,  The  Story  of  the  Forest  Fire.    By  Ed- 
ward S.  Ellis. 
Fox     Hunting,    As     Recorded     by   "Raed."     By   C.   A. 

Stephens. 
Freaks  on  the  Fells.    By  R.  M.  Ballantyne. 
Gascoyne,  the  Sandalwood  Trader.  By  R.  M.  Ballantyne. 
Girl's  Ordeal,  A.    By  Lucy  C.  Lillie. 
Gorilla  Hunters,  The.    By  R.  M.  Ballantyne. 
Great  Cattle  Trail,  The.    By  Edward  S.  Ellis. 
Hunt  on  Snow  Shoes,  A.    By  Edward  S.  Ellis. 
Hartwell  Farm,  The.    By  Elizabeth  B.  Comins. 
Hector's  Inheritance;   or,  The  Boys  of  Smith   Institute* 

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Helen    Glenn;    or,    My    Mother's    Enemy.     By   Lucy   C. 

Lillie. 
Helping    Himself;    or,    Grant   Thornton's   Ambition.     By 

Horatio  Alger,  Jr. 
Honest  Ned.    By  Edward  S.  Ellis. 
Haunted  Mine,  The.     By  Harry  Castlemon. 
In    Freedom's  Cause.     A  Story   of  Wallace  and  Bruce. 

By  G.  A.  Henty. 
In   the    Reign    of   Terror;    The   Adventures   of   a   West- 
minster Boy.    By  G.  A.  Henty. 
Jack   Midwood;    or,   Bread   Cast   Upon  the  Waters.     By 

Edward  S.  Ellis. 
Joe   Wayring    at    Home;    or,   The   Adventures   of  a    Fly 

Rod.     By  Harry  Castlemon. 
Kangaroo    Hunters,   The;    or,   Adventures   in   the    Bush. 

By  Anne  Bowman. 
King's  Rubies,  The.    By  Adelaide  Fulaer  Bell. 
Lady  Green  Satin.    By  Baroness  Deschesnez. 
Left  on  Labrador;  or,  The  Cruise  of  the  Yacht  "Curlew." 

By  C.  A.  Stephens. 
Lena  Wingo,  the  Mohawk.    By  Edward  S.  Ellis. 
Lenny,  the  Orphan.   By  Margaret  Hosmer. 
Lion  of  the   North.  The.     A  Tale  of  the  Times  of  Gus- 

tavus  Adolphus.    By  G.  A.  Henty. 
Luke  Walton;   or,  The  Chicago   Newsboy.     By  Horatio 

Alger,  Jr. 
Lynx  Hunting.    By  C.  A.  Stephens. 
Limber  Lew,  the  Circus  King.     By  Edward  S.  Ellis. 
Marion  Berkley.    By  Elizabeth  B.  Comins. 
Missing  Pocket-Book,  The.    By  Harry  Castlemon. 
Mysterious  Andes,  The.     By  Hezekiah  Butterworth. 
Northern    Lights.     Stories   from   Swedish   and   Finnish 

Authors. 
Off  to  the  Geysers;  or,  The  Young  Yachters  in  Iceland. 

By  C.  A.  Stephens. 
On  the  Amazon;   or,  The  Cruise  of  the  "Rambler."    By 

C.  A.  Stephens. 
On  the  Trail  of  the  Moose.    By  Edward  S.  Ellis. 
Orange  and  Green;  A  Tale  of  the  Boyne  and  Limerick. 

By  G.  A.  Henty. 


ROUNDABOUT  LIBRARY  (Continued) 
Price,  per  volume,  $0.75 

Oscar  in  Africa.    By  Harry  Castlemon. 
Our  Boys  in  Panama.     By  Hezekiah  Butterworth 
Our  Fellows;  or,  Skirmishes  with  the  Swamp  Dragoons. 
By  Harry  Castlemon.  a       * 

Path  in  the  Ravine,  The.    By  Edward  S.  Ellis 
Plucky  Dick;    or,  Sowing  and   Reaping.     By  Edward  S. 

JkliiS. 

Queen's  Body  Guard,  The.     By  Margaret  Vandegrift 

Question  of  Honor.     By  Lynde  Palmer. 

Righting  the  Wrong.     By  Edward  S.  Ellis 

River  Fugitivest  The.     By  Edward  S.  Ellis 

Remain    Kalbris.     His   Adventures   by   Sea   and   Shore. 

Translated  from  the  French  of  Hector  Malot 
Rose  Raymond's  Wards.    By  Margaret  Vandegrift' 
Ruth  Endicott's  Way.    By  Lucy  C.  Lillie 
Shifting   Winds;    A   Story   of   the   Sea.     By  R    M    Bar. 

lantyne.  '       ' 

Snagged   and   Sunk;    or,   The   Adventures  of  a   Canvas 

Canoe.     By  Harry  Castlemon.  canvas 

Squire's  Daughter,  The.     By  Lucy  C.  Lillie 
Steel    Horse,  The;   or,  The   Rambles  of  a   Bicycle.     By 

Harry  Castlemon.  '  y 

Store  Boy    The;  or,  The  Fortunes  of  Ben  Barclay.    By 

Horatio  Alger,  Jr.  '        y 

Storm  Mountain.     By  Edward  S.  Ellis 

StrUI?ger9  JrPyNard''  °P'  Luke  Larkin'S  Luck'  By  Horati<> 
Tarn;  or,  Holding  the  Fort.    By  Edward  S.  Ellis 
Through  Forest  and  Fire.     By  Edward  S.  Ellis  ' 
True  to  the  Old  Flag;  A  Tale  of  the  American  War  of 
Independence.    By  G.  A.  Henty. 

Sommers8'  The''  °P'  Heavenward  Led-    By  Jane  R. 

Unl^V'  Bi<romin9  a  Hunte<*-  By  Harry  Castlemon. 
Under  Drake's^Flag.    A  Tale  of  the  Spanish  Main.    By 

Under  the  Holly.    By  Margaret  Hosmer. 
Under  the  Red  Flag;  or,  The  Adventures  of  Two  Arner* 
■  can  Boys  in  the  Days  of  the  Commune.  By  Edwar* 


ROUNDABOUT  LIBRARY  (Continued) 
Price,  per  volume,  $0.75 

Ways  and  Means.     By  Margaret  Vandegrift. 

Where  Honor  Leads.    By  Lyude  Palmer. 

Wilderness  Fugitives,  The.     By  Edward  S.  Ellis. 

Wild  Man  of  the  West,  The.     By  R.  M.  Ballantyne. 

With  Olive  in  India;  or,  The  Beginning  of  an  Empire. 
By  G.  A.  Heuty. 

With  Wolfe  in  Canada;  or,  The  Winning  of  a  Continent. 
By  G.  A.  Henty. 

Wyoming.     By  Edward  S.  Ellis. 

Young  Adventurer,  The;  Tom's  Trip  Across  the  Plains. 
By  Horatio  Alger,  Jr. 

Young  Circus  Rider,  The.     By  Horatio  Alger,  Jr. 

Young  Conductor,  The;  or,  Winning  His  Way.  By  Ed- 
ward S.  Ellis. 

Young  Explorer,  The;  or,  Among  the  Sierras.  By  Ho- 
ratio Alger,  Jr. 

Young  Miner,  The;  or,  Tom  Nelson  in  California.  By 
Horatio  Alger,  Jr. 

Young  Ranchers,  The;  or,  Fighting  the  Sioux.  By 
Edward  S.  Ellis. 

Young  Wrecker,  The,    By  Richard  Meade  Bache. 


THE     RENOWNED     STANDARD     JUVENILES 

BY  EDWARD  S.  ELLIS 

hSZoH  wi,f  "J8  iS  rt§arded  as  the  lat*r  day  Cooper. 
Sri,  «f    •  ,W,ayS  be  read  for  the  accurate  pen  pic- 

tures of  pioneer  life  they  portray. 

LIST  OF  TITLES 


Its 


DEERFOOT  SERIES 

Hunters  of  the  Ozark. 
The  Last  War  Trail. 
Camp  in  the  Mountains. 

LOO  CABIN  SERIES 
Lost  Trail. 

Footprints  in  the  Forest. 
Camp  Fire  and  Wigwam. 

BOY  PIONEER  SERIES 
Ned  in  the  Block-House. 
Ned  on  the  River. 
Ned  in  the  Woods. 

THE  NORTHWEST  SERIES 

Two  Boys  in  Wyoming. 
Cowmen  and  Rustlers. 
A    Strange    Craft    and 

Wonderful  Voyage. 

BOONE  AND  KENTON  SERIES 
Shod  with  Silence. 
In  the  Days  of  the  Pioneers. 
Phantom  of  the  River. 

WAR  CHIEF  SERIES 
Red  Eagle. 
Blazing  Arrow. 
Iron  Heart,  War  Chief  of 
the  Iroquois. 

THE  NEW  DEERFOOT  SERIES 
Deerfoot  in  the  Forest. 
Deerfoot  on  the  Prairie. 
Deerfoot  in  the  Mountains. 
OTHER  TITLES 
PRICE  $1.00  PER  VOLUME 

Complete  Catalogue  of 
brated  Castlemon  Books 
mailed  on  application 


TRUE  GRIT  SERIES 
Jim  and  Joe. 

Dorsey,  the  Young  Inven- 
tor. 
Secret  of  Coffin  Island. 
GREAT  AMERICAN  SERIES 
Teddy    and     Towser;     or, 
Early  Days  in  California. 
Up  the  Forked  River. 

COLONIAL  SERIES 

An  American  King. 
The  Cromwell  of  Virginia. 
The  Last  Emperor  of  the 
Old  Dominion. 

FOREIGN  ADVENTURE  SERIES 
Lost  in  the  Forbidden  Land. 
River  and  Jungle. 
The    Hunt    of    the    White 

Elephant. 

PADDLE  YOUR  OWN  CANOE  SERIES 
The  Forest  Messengers. 
The  Mountain  Star. 
Queen  of  the  Clouds. 

ARIZONA  SERIES 
Off    the    Reservation;     or, 
Caught  in  an  Apache  Raid' 
Trailing      Geronimo;      or, 
Campaigning  with  Crook. 
The  Round-Up;  or,  Geroni- 
mo's  Last  Raid. 
IN    PREPARATION 

Sold  separately  and  in  set 
Famous  Alger  Books,  Cele- 
and    Renowned    Ellis    Books 


THE  JOHN  C.  WINSTON  CO  PHILADELPHIA,  PA. 


.''.';  ■  ■  ■  " ' ,' ' '  ■ '   '    '  ' ' '  ■  \ 


